The capital of Chile is Santiago. Chile gained independence in 1810 and is home to 17,650,114 Chileans (2016).  The official language is Spanish. Chileans also speak a distinct dialect of Spanish called Catellano de Chile. Chileans practice Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Here I am two hours ahead of EST.

When visiting, travelers should visit the historical site San Cristobal Hill, which is also home to the Chilean National Zoo as well as a Japanese-style garden. Chile is rich with natural beauty. Travelers should visit Torres del Paine National Park, to see the icebergs and soaring mountains of the region. Also to visit is Valle de la Luna, a scenic valley in the Atacama Desert.

One fun fact is that Chile is home to the largest swimming pool in the world located at the San Alfonso del Mar resort . The pool is a record 2km long!