Chile

Overview

Spanning a distance of over 4,000 kilometers from north to south, and wedged between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Chile is a country which features a remarkably diverse range of environments. 

While the northern half of Chile is absolute desert – with the Atacama Desert  arguably being the driest place on earth - in the south, snow capped ranges, lakes, glaciers and densely forested valleys gradually emerge as the landscape morphs into the area known as Patagonia. Complete with thousands of islands and deep fjords, Chile is undoubtedly a land of extremes.

Yet the country is not only geographically diverse, but also boasts an equally varied cultural history. With remnants of the Inka culture remaining in the north and an Indigenous population that still recognizes its traditional lifeways in the south, Chile's Spanish colonial history also co-exists with evidence of German and English occupation in some areas.

Join archaeologist Dr Chris Carter for a brilliant introduction to this fascinating country, which includes a brief overview of Chile's history during its prehistoric period, the Spanish occupation, and its struggle for independence.