CHILE IN THE REGIONAL CONTEXT OF LATIN AMERICA

THREE CONTINENTALITY

Claudio Meneses BustosDepartamento de Geografía

Universidad de Chile

Polinesia América

Antarctica

THE PHYSICAL CONTEXT OF CHILE

IN SOUTH AMERICA

Andes Mountain Range

Length:7.000 Km

Maximum width:700 Km

Chilean – Bolivian “Altiplano”

Amazonas River

Basin

Surface:7.000.000 sq Km

Length:6.788 Km

De La Plata River Basin

Surface:3.800.000 sq Km

Length:3.000 Km

Brazilian Massif

Continental Chile:

Lat. 18º South

Lat. 56º South

Length: 4.200 Km.

Surface: 756.626 sq Km.

Width: Minimum 90 Km.

Maximum 400 Km.

Economic Geography:

Natural resources based economy.

•Mining (Copper and Gold)

•Fishery(Industrial and Salmon)

•Forestry(Natural and Artificial)

•Agriculture(Fresh fruits, grapes and berries)

There are many good social and economic

characteristics of Chile in the Latin American context:

The Human Scenario:

Population

020406080

100120140160180200

Source: World Bank, 2003

Life Expectancy (Years)

5860626466687072747678

Source: World Bank, 2003

GNI (U$ per capita)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Source: World Bank, 2003

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

MexicoPeru

Venezuela

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Child Malnutrition (%)

Source: World Bank, 2003

Bolivia

Brazil

ChileColombia

Ecuador

Mexico

Peru

Venezuela

727476788082848688909294

Access to Improved Water Source (%)

Source: World Bank, 2003

Conformation of the Chilean Territory:

• Portions of former peruvian zones.o Tarapacá, Nitrate deposits, Fishing.

• Portions of former bolivian zones.o Antofagasta, Coppper mining.

• Argentina holds portions of former chilean zones.o Parts of Patagonia.

SOUTH PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD

BEAGLE CANAL

TARAPACÁ

ANTOFAGASTA

PATAGONIA

Regional Scope (Norte Chico and Aysén):

• Norte Chico: Semiarid zone, known by the table grape production for export.

• Aysén: Tourism based in nature and natural resources.

In Aysen the activities requires a better organization to replace the spontaneous services offer by the rural people

The natural system offers more resources for tourism than the tourism products offer by the people.

NEVERTHELESS

THERE IS POVERTY

Sitios de Interes en el Sitios de Interes en el sector:sector:

VENTISQUERO COLGANTE

THANKS VERY MUCH