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Nestled on the western side of South America, Chile is a long, narrow country with the most slender contours on earth. Due to its unique geography, Chile stretches for more than 4,300 kilometers longitudinally, but its average width is only about 180 kilometers. Although Chile cannot be compared with Russia, Canada, China, the United States and other large countries in terms of vast geographical area, when it comes to the slenderness and elegance of the country's form, Chile is undoubtedly the leader.
So, what is it that has shaped Chile's unique elongated landscape, dating back to the 19th century.
Prior to independence, Chile was a region under Spanish colonial rule that was under the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of Peru. Chile became part of Spain after the Spaniards seized Chile from the Inca Empire in 1536 and ended the Inca Empire.
With the advent of the 19th century, the influence of the Kingdom of Spain gradually declined, especially after the invasion of Napoleon, and the difficulties at home and abroad continued. Against this background, fierce struggles for independence began across Latin America under Spanish rule. In 1810, when Spain was confronted with war on the European continent, Chilean patriots seized the opportunity. On September 18, Chileans organized for the first time with an important meeting that eventually led to the establishment of the Chilean Autonomous Government, which, although this did not mean full independence, marked the beginning of Chile's protests against Spanish rule.
In the years that followed, there was a fierce conflict between Chilean patriots and forces loyal to Spain. In 1814, Spanish troops regained control of Chile in a counteroffensive, but this period of re-dominance did not last long. The independence fighters in Chile did not give up hope, and they planned and organized a new uprising behind their backs.
In 1817, a turning point came. A combined army led by the Argentine army leader, José de San Martín, and Bernardo O'Higgins of Chile, crossed the Andes Mountains to launch the famous Battle of the Andes. This bold military operation succeeded in defeating the Spanish army and paved the way for the liberation of Chile.
On February 12, 1818, Chile finally declared its independence, a day that would mark an important milestone in Chile's history, although the war of independence would continue for several years. Bernardo O'Higgins became the supreme leader of the newly formed Republic of Chile, while San Martín continued his fight, bringing the flames of liberation to the entire South American continent. Chile, Peru, and Bolivia were evenly matched for some time after independence, but in 1836 Bolivia and Peru formed the Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation under the leadership of Andrés de Santa Cruz, which upset the balance of power. In addition, Freire, the exiled Chilean liberal leader, has also been protected by the federation and seems likely to return to power at any time.
Therefore, Chile, feeling the imminent crisis, chose to take the initiative. By 1837, Chile had declared war on the Peruvian-Bolivian Federation, and the Chilean expeditionary force had inflicted heavy losses on Peruvian territory, eventually leading to the collapse of the Peruvian-Bolivian Federation. In this war against the two countries, Chile was unexpectedly victorious. This victory greatly galvanized Chile's nationalist and territorial expansion ambitions, prompting it to begin an active outward expansion.
After territorial clashes with Peru and Bolivia, Chile succeeded in seizing the Atacama region to the north, including the northernmost part of the desert, Arica and Tacna, and establishing its dominance over the Pacific coastline. In the middle of the 19th century, Chile's borders were significantly increased. Chile divided the land with Argentina on the eastern and western sides of the Andes and fought for ownership of Tierra del Fuego. The end result was that Chile took possession of a third of the western part of Tierra del Fuego and signed an agreement with Argentina for control of the Beagle Strait and its surrounding islands. These events laid the foundation for Chile's north-south territory.
After seizing the Atacama region, the Chilean government realized that in order to maintain its control over the region, it must strengthen infrastructure and resource development. The Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions in the world, has a large number of mineral resources, especially saltpeter and copper, which are of great importance for Chile's economic development. Chile began investing in mining and gradually developed into one of the world's largest copper producers. As the mining industry boomed, a large number of laborers flocked to the north from all over the country, and towns sprung up in the desert. The Arica and Tacna Strip, once a deserted borderland, has become a thriving economic center, and its role in Chile has become increasingly important.
Today, as the most economically advanced country in Latin America, Chile relies on its thriving mineral resources industry as a cornerstone of economic growth, with copper mining leading the way. Iron and coal mining also played a key role in Chile's prosperity. However, the country is not content to rely solely on the mining industry, it is gradually transforming itself into a focus on non-heavy industries such as light manufacturing, which are growing in size. Agriculture, another pillar of Chile's economy, is also doing well.
The annual domestic grain output can reach the 5 million tonnes, with wheat, corn and potatoes as the main crops, which is enough to achieve domestic self-sufficiency. In addition to food crops, Chile's orchards harvest 5 million tonnes of fruit each year, and its cherries, in particular, are popular in the global market and become a popular commodity for winter sales. In addition to traditional industries, Chile has also vigorously expanded its foreign trade and actively promoted its local products to the international market.
Trade cooperation between the mainland and Chile is particularly close, with an annual trade volume of up to 60 billion US dollars. Tourism is also a major attraction in Chile, especially Easter Island, located near Antarctica, known for its mysterious statues in Rapa Nui National Park, which attracts countless tourists every year.