Our Country

According to the 2002 Census, Chile has a population of approximately 16,000,000 inhabitants.

The unusual north-south extension of Chile, equivalent to crossing Europe from the far north of Norway to beyond the most southern tip of Spain, gives rise to a great variety of climates with the only absence of humid tropical climates. In the North, regions I, II and III have areas where rainfall has never been recorded, such as the Atacama Desert, and others where sporadic rainfall in winter has given rise to an explosion of flowers in spring, a phenomenon known as “Flowering Desert”. In this vast section of the country, the coast has a moderate climate, with foggy mornings and sunny afternoons. As the altitude increases, temperatures during daytime rise and drop at night. In the highlands (altiplano), temperatures plunge below freezing at night, even during the summer. This season is also known for the “Bolivian Winter”, a phenomenon that brings occasional rain and hail storms.

Further south, between regions IV and VIII, the landscape turns Mediterranean, with valleys and coastlines boasting a temperate climate, well-defined seasons, dry summers and relatively rainy winters.

Between regions VIII and X, a mild rainy climate sustains vast native rainforests and a flourishing agricultural industry. In regions XI and XII, the climate is rainy, moderately cold, and especially windy along the coast and the Patagonian pampa. At the far end of the continent, temperatures are lower and there is less rainfall.

Easter Island and the Juan Fernández Archipelago enjoy a subtropical climate with pleasant temperatures and moderate humidity that varies very little throughout the year.

National Flag

The national flag of Chile, known as “La Estrella Solitaria” (the Lone Star), was officially adopted 200 years ago on October 18, 1817. It is divided into two horizontal stripes, blue and white on top and red on the bottom, with a white five-pointed star in middle of the blue square.

The main interpretation of the colors of the flag regards blue as representing the sky and Pacific Ocean, white for the snow-covered Andes Mountains, and red for the blood spilled by national heroes in their fight for independence. The star symbolizes the three powers of the Chilean State (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) that ensure the nation’s integrity. Other interpretations indicate that the single star refers to a unitary State unlike, for example, the multiple stars of the flag of the United States that represent a federal State. Nevertheless, considering the verses of Canto XXI of the epic poem La Araucana (1569), the colors of the current Chilean flag would go back to the tricolor bands used by the Mapuche toquis during the Arauco War against the Spanish Conquest, while the star would represent the “star of Arauco”, according to Bernardo O’Higgins.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms is the heraldic emblem that officially represents our country, adopted 184 years ago. The design of the coat of arms is defined in Supreme Decree 1.534 of the Ministry of the Interior, published on December 12, 1967, that established the use of national emblems and systemized and consolidated several legal and regulatory standards on this subject. According to the decree, the coat of arms has a silver five-pointed star in the center of a shield divided into two equal parts, with blue on top and red on the bottom. The official shape of the coat of arms was approved by War Decree Nº 2.271 on September 4, 1920. The shield also has a plume of feathers in three colors: blue, white and red. It is supported by a huemul on the right and a condor on the left and each are wearing a golden naval crown. The motto appears below on a ribbon crossing an elaborate scroll that reads "Por la razón o la fuerza" (“By right or might”).

The first National Anthem

The first national anthem dates back to 1819. Composed by Manuel Robles and the poet Bernardo de Vera y Pintado, it was first performed on August 20, 1820 at the Domingo Arteaga Theater.

It became customary to sing the anthem before every performance at the theater. At first, everyone would stand up to sing, however, the practice of singing it every evening slowly decreased until it was only sung on Independence Day.

New version

The second Chilean national anthem was created by Spanish composer Ramón Carnicer while in exile in England because of his liberal ideas. Acting on the criticism that the first anthem was receiving, Mariano Egaña, Chilean Minister in London, asked Carnicer to create a new composition based on the same text by Bernardo de Vera y Pintado.
The Spanish musician composed the hymn in 1827, debuting on December 23, 1828 at a concert by the Philharmonic Society at the Arteaga Theater.
Years later, the Government of Chile commissioned the young poet Eusebio Lillo with a new text that would replace the anti-Spain poem of Vera y Pintado but retaining the original chorus “Dulce patria, recibe los votos”.

Carnicer’s hymn as well as Lillo’s verse had to overcome considerable resistance before it prevailed over its predecessors.