All Modules 63-Chile | Page 4

4 Country of the Month: Chile Flag of chile Chile´s national flag is known as the lonely star. October 18, 1817. It is divided horizontally into two bars: the top one is blue and white, while the lower one is red; in the blue canton there is a white colored five point star. The main interpretation of the use of the colors in the flag assign the blue to the representation of the skies and the Pacific ocean; the white are the snow covered peaks of the Andean mountain range; and the red is the blood spilled by the national heroes in their fight for independence. At the same time, the star symbolizes the three Chilean government powers (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) that oversee the integrity of the nation. The capital and main city is Santiago. Geography Chile is a republic whose territory extends over the west and south-west of South America; its limit to the north is Peru, to the east Bolivia and Argentina, and to the south and west the Pacific Ocean. It has an approximate longitude from north to south of 4,300 kilometers and an average with of 177 km. There are several archipelagos in the meridional coast of Chile, from Chiloe to the Diego Ramirez Islands, the most meridional point in the South American continent. Chile maintains a historic sovereignty in Antarctica, between 53º West longitudes. Territory and Resources