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Table of Contents
Santiago is not just the largest city in Chile, but also the capital. Its location on the Pacific Ring of fire means that a high number of earthquakes have occurred throughout history in the city.
See the fact file below for more information on the Santiago or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Santiago worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
FACTS ON SANTIAGO
- Santiago (Santiago de Chile) is named after the biblical figure St James. It has been the capital of Chile since colonial times.
- Chile is in South America, located at the bottom of Peru, and runs down the coastline to the very bottom of South America.
- The Pacific Ocean is its main ocean with the Atlantic meeting it at the bottom.
- You can find the city of Santiago on the canal of Mapocho River.
BASIC FACTS ON SANTIAGO
- Established: 1541
- Population: 6.3 million
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: Peso
- Elevation from sea level: 500m–650m above sea level
- Area: 641 square kilometres
- Position: Lies between the Mapocho River and the Andean peaks
- Original inhabitants: Picunche Indians
- War of Independence: 1810-18. Gained independence from Spain on 18 September 1810. Santiago was named the capital in 1818
- Industry: Foodstuffs, textiles, shoes, clothes, metallurgy, and copper mining
- Culture: Cosmopolitan, music, theatre, painting, literature, mestizo artisanship, museums, and libraries
- Climate: Mediterranean type climate, with a long dry season and short rainy winters. Prone to earthquakes and floods
HISTORY
- Spanish explorer Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541 on February 12. It has been the capital since colonial times.
- Valdivia was sent by Francisco Piazzo from Peru to establish a city on behalf of the King of Spain, King Carlos I.
- Valdivia used master builder Pedro de Gamboa to design the city grid, placing the Plaza Mayor in the centre. Around the plaza, plots were used for the cathedral and the governor’s house. By the time he had finished part of his assignment, there would be a total of eight blocks from north to south.
- By 1558, Gamboa had designed 126 blocks, over 40 of which were already occupied.
- Santiago’s history is filled with battles and wars between locals, Spaniards, and indigenous natives.
- They had to deal with natural disasters that threatened the city, such as earthquakes and floods. None of these stopped the growth of the capital.
- The Royal Court was established in 1607, reaffirming the city’s role as the capital of Chile.
- By 1820, Santiago had 46,000 inhabitants, and a census reported that there were 115,337 inhabitants by 1865. This increased suburban growth to the south and west of the capital.
- By 1920, the population was 507,296. The downtown district was into commercial, financial and administrative centres, leading to the construction of various modern buildings, ministries and public services.
- The technological advances led to a population explosion that started in 1929.
- Population growth and unemployment increased and industries shut down. Agriculture exports declined. Farmers saw Santiago as a booming metropolis where they stood a chance of surviving.
- Thousands had to live on the streets due to lack of places to live. This led to disease and death with increased living costs and lower salaries.
- By 1940, the population reached 952,075 and grew to 1,350,409 by 1952 and 1,907,378 by 1960.
- 1990 saw Santiago surpass 3 million inhabitants. The city faced serious problems because of its growth. Air pollution was the biggest problem, making authorities place restrictions on vehicle use. They began adding to the railway lines with three new lines, expanding it to 105km. Changes to the public transport system were also put into place.
GEOGRAPHY
- Santiago is in the centre of the Santiago Basin, a large bowl-shaped valley with fertile lands and surrounded by mountains (the Andes, the Chilean Coastal, the Cordón de Chacabuco, and the Angostura de Paine).
- The basin is 80 km north to south and 35 km east to west, with the Mapocho River flowing through the city.
SEASONS
FUN FACTS
- Chile has the world’s biggest swimming pool.
- The driest place on Earth is the Atacama Desert in Chile.
- Chile is the world’s fourth largest wine exporter.
- The famous Easter Island is part of Chile.
- Chile has the world’s largest and still active volcanoes.
- It has the longest coastline in the world.
- Chile has the oldest mummy in the world.
- It is home to five UNESCO world heritage sites.
- Chile has the tallest building in South America, called Costanera Gran Torre, in Santiago.
- 90% of potatoes come from Chile.
Santiago Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Santiago across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Santiago worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Santiago which is not just the largest city in Chile, but also the capital. Its location on the Pacific Ring of fire means that a high number of earthquakes have occurred throughout history in the city.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Santiago Facts
- Where in the World?
- Fun with Flags
- Wordsearch
- Crossword
- Wish You Were Here!
- Truly Santiago
- Cooking Time
- Do You Know?
- Hazards of Chile
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Link will appear as Santiago Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 3, 2021
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.