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South America: Magellan

This country is very narrow, having a breadth of from 40 to 200 m. only. Besides its possessions proper on the continent, Chili lays claims to the whole of Patagonia and Terra del Fuego. The former is an extensive region, comprising the S. extremity of South America, from lat. 38° 54' to the Strait of Magellan. It has a length of 1000 m.; and the territory on the W. side of the Andes, with the adjacent islands S. of lat. 42°, forms what is known as the province of Chiloe in the Chilian republic. That portion lying E. of the Andes, and extending to the Atlantic Ocean, has an area of about 300,000 sq. m., and a population of over 25,000 aborigines. This land is in dispute between Chili and the Argentine republic, which borders it on the N. There is a Chilian settlement at Punta Arenas, in the colony of Magellan, while the chief Argentine town is Chupat. The inhabitants of this country were called Patagonians by Magellan, who discovered in 1519, on account of the supposed magnitude of their feet-patagon, in Spanish, signifying a large foot.

Terra del Fuego, or “land of fire,” comprises a large group of islands at the S. extremity of the continent, between lat. 52° 40' and 56°, and long. 63° 40' and 75° W. The Strait of Magellan separates it from the Mainland, and on the E., S., and W. the shores are washed by the Atlantic, Antarctic, and Pacific Oceans respectively. There is one large island in the group, known as King Charles' South Land, 385 m. in length and upwards of 200 m. in breadth. All the islands are composed of mountains covered with perpetual ice and snow, or clothed with stunted forests. It was this group that Capt. Cook termed the Land of Desolation, a name admirably suited to the entire group.

Including Patagonia, Chili has an area of about 218,925 sq. m.; without it, 123,639 sq. m. The population of the republic proper is 2,136,724. Among the other possessions of Chili is the island of Juan Fernandez, 360 m. from the coast. It is mountainous and well wooded, and abounds with goats, while the beach is a haunt of seals. Chili is divided into 21 provinces, as follows:-Chiloe, Llanquihue, Valdivia, Arauco, Concepcion, Nuble, Maule, Linares, Talca, Curico, Colchagua, Santiago, Valparaiso, Aconcagua, Coquimbo, Atacama, Bio Bio, and Angol.

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. - The surface of Chili is greatly diversified. The Andes extend in two parallel lines throughout nearly the entire extent of the country. Besides there are two other ranges, not quite so high as the Andes, which traverse portions of the narrow strip between the Andes and the Pacific. The mean elevation of the mountain is about 11,800 ft., and the greater portion of them are, or have been, volcanic. The highest peak is Aconcagua, which reaches an elevation of 22,422 ft., but this shows no sign of modern igneous action. Other noted volcanic peaks are Llullaillaco (21,000 ft.), Villarica, San Jose (18,150 ft.), Peteroa, Llayma, Autuco, Hanahue, Chillan, Calbuco, Corcovado, Osomo, and Yanteles. These have been in active eruption in recent periods. Other mountains remarkable for their elevation are:- Cerro del Mercedario, 22,305 ft.; Tupungato (volcanic), 21,413 ft.; Cerro de la Ramada, 20,824 ft.; Joncal, 20,368 ft.; Cerro del Plomo, 17,825 ft.; Maypu, 17,664 ft.; Cruz de Piedra, 17,126 ft.; San Francisco, 16,998 ft.; Cordillera de la Laguna, 15,575 ft.

The Andes are crossed by ten passes from the Argentine republic, at altitudes varying from 6,000 to 14,770 ft., the latter being the pass of Dona Ana, in the province of Coquimbo. These passes are open about eight months in the year, but even at their best they can never be traveled by vehicles. There are frequent earthquake shocks in Chili, which, without causing damage, occasion much alarm lest they should be followed by the earthquake itself. One in fifty years, in the same province, is about the maximum of earthquake occurrences, though it is calculated that one in every tenth year makes itself felt in some part of Chili.

LAKES AND RIVERS.-There are several large lakes in S. Chili, the most important being Llanquihue, 197 ft. above the sea. It is 30 m. long and 22 m. broad. Other lakes, varying in extend from 18 to 32 m. length, are found in other sections, growing smaller as the N. boundaries are approached.

The rivers, like the lakes, are largest in the S. They are fed by the snow which melts on the Andes. Only a few are navigable for a short distance. They are valuable for purposes of irrigation. The largest river is the Bio Bio, which has a length of 220 m., and is 2 m. wide at its mouth.

MINERALS.-This country is very rich in minerals. Gold, silver, copper, lead, antimony, cobalt, zinc, nickel, bismuth, iron, and quicksilver are found in the N., while coal abounds in the S. The richest silver mines are in the province of Atacama. Gold is also found in Magellan. Copper is more equally distributed than silver in the N. provinces. Arsenical copper is found in the Calabazo mine near Coquimbo. That rare ore, the oxychloride of copper, or alacamite, is found in Remolinos and Santa Rosa, in veins in granite. The principal copper mines are in the provinces of Atacama, Coquimbo and Aconcagua. The leading cobalt mines are in San Juan. Sulphuret of zinc is found in various parts, as well as antimony, lead, manganese, mercury and bismuth. Gypsum is quarried in immense beds in Santiago, and alabaster in Salto de Agua, near Santiago. The coal measures extend along the coast from the province of Concepcion to the Strait of Magellan. The richest mines are just S. from the Bio Bio, at Coronel, Lota and Lebu. There are also extensive smelting works at Coronel and Lebu. Chili exports, of her mineral product, 70 per cent. copper and 25 per cent. silver. Between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 tons of coal are produced. The average value of mineral exports is above 46 per cent., and the agricultural about 44 per cent.

AGRICULTURAL.-Only about 18 per cent. of the surface of Chili is arable land. The most important agricultural product for home consumption and exportation is wheat. About two-thirds of the annual yield of this cereal is exported in grain and flour. Corn is grown in every part of Chili. The potato is indigenous. There are over 100 different kinds of indigenous trees, of which not more than 13 ever shed their leaves. The cedar is the most important tree. Wild animals are numerous. The mule is the beast of burden. Manufactures have scarce been begun.

GOVERNMENT.- The constitution of the republic was adopted in 1833. This establishes three authorities-legislative, executive and judicial. The legislative comprises a senate and a chamber of deputies, the former composed of 20 members chosen for nine years, and the deputies elected for three years, consisting of one representative to every 20,000 population. The president is elected for five years. The council of state is composed of 11 officials, 6 of whom are chosen by the senate and chamber of deputies. The recognized form of worship is Roman Catholic, yet the profession of other creeds is tolerated.

Chile first became known to Europeans in the 16th century. The Spaniards occupied the country in 1541. Chilian independence was secured in 1817. Internal troubles were incessant until 1833, when the present constitution was adopted. Since then, with the exception of the victorious war with Bolivia and Peru, 1879-81, the country has enjoyed great prosperity. The army numbers 56,000 men and 960 officers; the navy, 49 vessels, manned by 2159 men. Revenue - £8,248,367; expenditure, £8,136,740; debt, £36,121,108; imports, £11,384,278; exports, £12,258,703.