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A long and narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean, Chile (once known as Tchili, meaning “snow”) is a country in South America bordered by Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. In 1541, Pedro de Validivia, a Spanish conquistador, founded Santiago the capital of Chile.
Today, Santiago is home to over 5 million people and boasts some of Chile’s most beautiful natural attractions including Torres del Paine and the southern Lake District where tourists and locals can go hiking or biking past lush forests and impressive mountains. Among the popular historical landmarks for tourists is Easter Island (Isla de Pascua), a World Heritage site which is famous for its monumental statues.
Situated close to Santiago is the Valparaíso Region, a popular summer destination that is home to several beach resorts. Tourists also visit the nearby city Viña del Mar, for its beaches, casino and annual song festival, which features music such as tonada, a traditional Chilean song.