OVER CHILE research ABOUT CHILE Chile is situated in the southwestern tip of South America between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Its extensive length (4,200 kilometers, similar to a tour of Europe from Lisbon to Moscow) offers a huge variety of landscapes and climates throughout its territory, from the Atacama Desert -­‐the driest in the world -­‐ in the far north to Patagonia’s millennia-­‐old glaciers in the south. Chile is a long, narrow country that extends from the Andes Mountains to the Pacific Ocean on the southwest side of South America, from latitude 17° 30' S in the Altiplano to 56° 30' S at the far end of continental Chile and 90° S in its Antarctic territory. Chile has a unique geography: its territory includes Easter Island, in Polynesia, 3,700 km from the mainland, as well as territory in Antarctica (Chile Antártico, 1,250,000 km2). Continental and insular Chile, which includes the mainland and offshore islands and archipelagos, covers 756,096 km2. Chile's main territory is roughly twice the size of Germany and consists of a strip of land 4,200 km long and 90 to 440 km wide. In the far south, the land is transected by hundreds of islands and fiords. Santiago is the country's capital and largest city in terms of population and employment, with 6,061,185 inhabitants as of the 2002 census. Located on parallel 33° S, at roughly the same latitude as Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Santiago is the country's main political, economic, cultural and industrial center. It is the gateway to Chile and one of the most modern capital cities on the continent. NATURE & ENVIRONMENT Chile's varied ecosystems make it an attractive destination for nature lovers. Find some time to get away from it all and enjoy peaceful stays in the country's mountains, verdant forests and parks, beautiful islands and beaches. Chile's extraordinary variety of natural wonders includes the driest desert in the world, the altiplano, lakes and volcanoes and southern canals and glaciers. It's a country of contrasting and overwhelming landscapes, where contact with nature is guaranteed and it's still possible to find unexplored areas. This narrow territory has over 4,000 km of coastline and beaches for all tastes. Chile is home to all of the climates of the world save for one (humid tropical), which has allowed for the development of multiple natural landscapes. The northern area is arid and cold at high altitudes. It also receives brief bouts of precipitation that allow plant life to bloom in the desert. The central area is temperate and warm, perfect for wine producing. In southern Chile, the landscape becomes rainy, lush and rural, and the temperate jungle begins. Southern Patagonia is marked by intense cold and strong winds as well as fjords, lakes and raging rivers. The variety is completed by the archipelago of Chiloé, the pristine Juan Fernández (Robinson Crusoe) Islands, and magical Easter Island (Rapa Nui) with its warm subtropical climate. Nineteen percent of the country's territory is a protected park or natural reserve. This is excellent news for fans of bird watching, who can experience different species of penguin, condor, sea birds, woodpecker, flamingo and ñandú up close. You can also take in Chile's abundant native flora and animals like vicunas, foxes, pumas and pudúes in their natural habitat. All of this is accentuated by the WARNER HANSON TELEVISION CHILE OVER CHILE research more than 500 active volcanoes scattered throughout the territory, part of mountain ranges that crown many of the country's majestic landscapes. SPORTS AND ADVENTURE Chile is a long, narrow country tucked between the Andes and the Pacific. Its varied geography includes desert, beaches, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, snow-­‐capped mountains and valleys, the perfect natural backdrop for all kinds of outdoor activities of all kinds. CULTURE AND HERITAGE In addition to its natural wonders and wide variety of landscapes and climates, Chile has a rich cultural heritage that has been passed down from its native peoples and colonists. The country is home to interesting neighborhoods, historic buildings, modern museums, impressive archeological sites, and a range of popular traditions and celebrations that are packed with color and emotion. Discover the cultural treasures of Chile. Wine and Food Chilean cuisine is a delicious and varied blend of traditional fare developed by members of its indigenous communities and elements introduced by the Spanish conquistadors. No matter which part of the country you visit, you can enjoy a variety of fresh fish and seafood dishes as well as meats and produce. The country's salmon, oysters, fruit and wine are world-­‐renowned. THE PEOPLE: the Chilean identity is something to be discovered and experienced by visitors. You will no doubt observe distinct differences between the hurried residents of the big cities and the inhabitants of the valleys, coasts and mountains, where the pace of life is calmer and time seems to pass more slowly. Generally speaking, the people of Chile are friendly, open to foreign visitors (despite the fact that only 8% of them speak English with relative fluency), and have a strong sense of identity linked to rural Chile. The iconic figure is the "huaso," which refers to a country dweller known for his friendliness and wit. Chileans speak Spanish rapidly, often dropping the last letters of words including the plural-­‐denoting "s." The vernacular includes a series of slang terms and invented words that is always evolving and reveals a healthy dose of humor and mischief. Visitors may feel a bit lost at first, but the locals are more than happy to explain the nuances of the Chilean idioms. Chileans' most distinctive physical attributes are brown skin tones, medium heights (1.6 meters for women, 1.7 meters for men), black hair and medium to thick builds. MUSIC: Chile has a long history of music, both traditional and modern. From modern latin beats to traditional instruments of the Andean culture, Chile has a strong music culture. The youth have shown a notable push to reinvigorating the Chilean music scene, in recent years. The music shows a mix of social messages / protest, as well as beats that draw upon traditional Latin chords. WARNER HANSON TELEVISION CHILE OVER CHILE research RESOURCES / KEY SPONSORSHIP POTENTIAL CHILE TRAVEL chile.travel PROCHILE Prochile.com Agriculture and trade organization promoting Chilean products to international audiences (olive oil, wine, fruit, salmon, specialty items, etc. ) THIS IS THE LARGEST PROMOTION ORGANIZATION IN CHILE. **Note: WHTV has well established contacts in the organization. NOTE: Campaign takes Chilean cuisine and produce to the United States Fifteen high-­‐profile dinner parties in five U.S. cities as ‘Foods From Chile’ seeks to strengthen Chile’s relationship with its leading food export market. http://www.thisischile.cl/8260/2/campaign-­‐takes-­‐chilean-­‐cuisine-­‐and-­‐produce-­‐to-­‐the-­‐united-­‐ states/News.aspx WINES OF CHILE Winesofchile.org Established in 2002, Wines of Chile strives to increase the presence of Chilean wines across all destination markets. Trade and promotions group for Chilean wine producers MOVI (Independent Vintners Movement) is a group of independent vintners producing designer wines in limited quantities. www.movi.cl MARINE HARVEST Largest exporter of salmon related products in Chile. **Note: WHTV has well established contacts in the organization SALMON OF THE AMERICAS Trade consortium of salmon related products from Chile. **Note: WHTV has well established contacts in the organization SALMON FROM CHILE: www.salmonchile.cl **Note: WHTV has well established contacts in the organization WARNER HANSON TELEVISION CHILE OVER CHILE research CHILE CONSERVATION: Chile and United States working together to protect environment: Officials from both countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase cooperation and improve conservation management of protected natural areas. http://www.thisischile.cl/8448/2/chile-­‐and-­‐united-­‐states-­‐working-­‐together-­‐to-­‐protect-­‐ environment/News.aspx CONSERVATION PATAGONICA http://www.conservacionpatagonica.org conservation organization run by Patagonia clothing executive Yvon Chouinard. Working to preserve the natural landscapes of Chile. METLIFE: American corporation that recently acquired large Chilean assets and businesses. Chilean Fruit and Produce Exporters Association Tel.: (562) 472-­‐4700 Fax: (562) 206-­‐4163 asoex@asoex.cl www.asoex.cl Fruit Growers Federation of Chile Tel.: (562) 585-­‐4500 Fax: (562) 585-­‐4501 fedefruta@fedefruta.cl www.fedefruta.cl ChileNut Tel.: (562) 638-­‐8621 epuentes@chilenut.cl www.chilenut.cl FOODS FROM CHILE (PROCHILE CAMPAIGN) “The U.S. enjoys literally tons of Chilean foods. The campaign highlights the nutritious food that’s already on fruit stands, at the seafood counter, on shelves, in wine stores, in homes and on America’s plates.“The objective of the campaign is to let Americans in on this secret—that it’s Chile’s pristine land, waters, rich soil and extraordinary climate that bring forth these bountiful, healthful foods. The ultimate goal of the program is to inspire consumers to form an emotional connection to Chilean food and wine, and to understand the nutritional benefits of purchasing Chilean agricultural products, which complement United States’ own food production with an opposite growing WARNER HANSON TELEVISION CHILE