10 Chilean curiosities

ET - PHONE CHILE

The Chilean Government is one of the few in the world with a state-funded UFO department.

LONG TO BE THERE?

Chile is the world’s longest country from north to south at 2647 miles.

EXTRA DRY

The Atacama Desert in the north of the country is the world’s driest place with less than 0.05mm of rainfall a year.

CHILLY!

By contrast, to the south of the country, the Great Southern Ice Field in Patagonia is the third largest mass of ice in the world.

EASTER SURPRISE

Easter Island, which falls under Chilean governance, sits some 2300 miles off the coast and is the world’s most isolated inhabited island.

YOU’RE HAVING A LAVA

Chile has around 500 volcanoes with around 168 active. Three of the most dangerous are Cerro Arul, Cerro Hudson and Villaricca – which erupted in 2015.

HIGH TIMES

Chile’s highest point is the summit of Nevada Ojos del Salado at 22,572 feet, the world’s highest volcano.

MUMMY MIA

One of the Chinchorro Mummies is the world’s oldest and is dated to 5050BC, around 2000 years before the first Egypitan mummies were embalmed.

SPOTLESS PATAGONIA

In the South, Patagonia is rated as one of the cleanest places in the world.

DEEP THOUGHT

Chile is home to the world’s largest outdoor swimming pool at the San Alfonso Del Mar. It is larger than 50 Olympic pools and holds 66 million gallons of water. With a depth of 115 feet it is also the world’s deepest.