On September 18, 1810, Chile broke from Spanish rule, declaring its independence. Previously, the Spanish had controlled Chile since the middle of the 16th century. The movement to independence was sparked by several other countries revolting against colonial rule. The French and Spanish were also warring in Europe at this time, and the governor of Chile, Francisco Antonio García Carrasco, was involved in a large scandal, making this a prime time for Chile to take action.
Chile celebrates its independence with much fanfare. The day is a national holiday that rivals Christmas with regard to its festive, celebratory atmosphere. Celebrations begin in early September and can last for weeks on end. People celebrate with food, parades, dancing, reenactments, music, and more. Kites fill the air, and the national rodeo finals are held at this time of year, which is thrilling for tourists.
About Chile
Chile stretches along the western edge of South America, hugging the Pacific Ocean. Santiago is the capital and lies in a valley surrounded by the Andes and the Chilean Coast Range mountains. Chile borders Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Chile also claims land on Antarctica.
Some theorize that Chile derived its name from a local word meaning either "ends of the earth," or from the Mapuche word chilli, which means "where the land ends."
Chile has a varied climate and topography. In the north, Chile can be quite arid. Southern Chile has rich forests, grazing lands and a string of volcanoes.
Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. Chile is home to around 15 million people, the majority of whom live in urban areas around greater Santiago, Concepcíon and Valparaíso.
The Chilean people, who identify primarily as caucasian, have a heritage that is predominately European with Native American and African influences. As of 2015, Christianity was the most popular religion in Chile, with more than half of all Christians belonging to the Catholic Church.
Chile is a diverse country in climate, landscape and culture, making it an interesting place to visit and a lively place to live.
