Fun Facts About Chile
By Alejandro Guevara Onofre
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Chile has many idols: Claudio Arrau (pianist), Gabriela Mistral (writer), Pablo
Neruda (writer), Nicolas Massu (sportsman), Fernando Gonzalez (sportsman),
Miriam Hernandez (singer), Cecilia Bolocco (Miss Universe 1987), Isabel Allende
(writer), Jorge Edwards (writer), Christian de la Fuente (actor), Roberto Matta
(architect), Hernan Büchi (economist), and Jose Piñera (economist).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Michelle Bachelet Jeria is currently president of Chile.She is South America´s
second elected woman president.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
In 1987, Pope John Paul visited Chile.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
The 1945 Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Gabriela Mistral, a poetess.
Her real name was Lucila de Maria del Perpetuo Socorro Godoy Alcayaga. She was
the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for Literarure. Gabriela Mistral
is a national heroine of Chile.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Santiago de Chile hosted the FIBA 1959 Men´s World Championship.Brazil won the
tournament in Chile.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Like South Korea and Mauritius, Chile has one of the best democracies in the
Third World.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
UNESCO has declared Rapa Nui National Park (2005), Churches of Chiloe (2000),
Historic Quarter of the Seaport City of Valparaiso (2003), Humberstone and Santa
Laura Saltpeter Works (2005), and Sewell Mining Town (2006) World Heritage
Sites. Like Petra (Jordan), Tikal National Park, and Taj Mahal (India), Rapa Nui
National Park is considered among the wonders of the world.
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Chile is also known for its International Song Festival of Viña del Mar. In the
1980s and 1990s, Many artists went to Festival of Viña del Mar, including Julio
Iglesias (singer), Jose Luis Rodriguez (singer), Thalia (singer), Gina
Lollobrigida (actress), Lucia Mendez (actress), Celia Cruz (singer and actress),
Sting (singer), Bryan Adams (singer), and Maria Conchita Alonso (actress and
singer).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Different from many Third World countries, Chile has competed in the Winter
Olympic Games 14 times (Saint Moritz-1948, Oslo-1952, Cortinad´Ampezzo-1956,
Squaw Valley-1960,Innsbruck-1964, Grenoble-1968, Innsbruck-1976, Sarajevo-1984,
Calgary-1988, Albertville-1992, Lillehammer-1994, Nagano-1998, Salt Lake
City-2002, and Turin-2006).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Chile has more Nobel Prizes than Brazil (0), Cuba(0),Venezuela (0), Colombia
(1), South Korea (0), Puerto Rico (0), and Bangladesh (1).Chile has two Nobel
Prize winners:1945:Gabriela Mistral (Nobel Prize for Literature).1971:Pablo
Neruda (Nobel Prize for Literature).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Chile has had famous athletes in the past century: Marlene Arehns (track and
field), Ivan Zamorano (soccer), Carlos Caszelly (soccer), Elias Figueroa
(soccer), Javier Margas (soccer), Marcelo Salas (soccer), Marcelo Rios (tennis),
Jaime Fillol (tennis), Alfonso de Irruarrizaga (shooting), Oscar Cristi
(equestrian), RicardoEcheverria(equestrian),Cesar Mendoza (equestrian), Ramon
Tapia (boxing), Claudio Barrientos (boxing), and Carlos Lucas (boxing).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
Chile has had spectacular beauties in the past century: Cecilia Bolocco (Miss
Universe 1987), Margott Montt (Miss Chile World 1986), Jenny Purtho Arap (Miss
Chile 1982), Claudia van Sint Jam (semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1985),
Maria Veronica Sommer (semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1976), Marianne Muller
Prieto (semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1978), Mariana Villasante Aravena
(semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1986), Maria Macarena Mina Garachena
(semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1989), and Urania Haltenhooff (semi-finalist
at the Miss Universe 1990).Chile has had spectacular beauties in the past
century: Cecilia Bolocco (Miss Universe 1987), Margott Montt (Miss Chile World
1986), Jenny Purtho Arap (Miss Chile 1982), Claudia van Sint Jam (semi-finalist
at the Miss Universe 1985), Maria Veronica Sommer (semi-finalist at the Miss
Universe 1976), Marianne Muller Prieto (semi-finalist at the Miss Universe
1978), Mariana Villasante Aravena (semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1986),
Maria Macarena Mina Garachena (semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1989), and
Urania Haltenhooff (semi-finalist at the Miss Universe 1990).
DID YOU KNOW THAT…The Chilean metropolis has hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1962
Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Alejandro, best known as “Alex”, is a freelance
writer. Different from other freelance writers, Alejandro is a versatile writer,
who has written articles about biographies, culture, ecology, tourism, and
international relations.
He admires Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA), Maria Felix (Mexican
actress), Mario Vargas Llosa (writer from Peru), and Osmel Sousa (currently
President of Miss Venezuela Organization).
His favorite writer is V.S.Naipaul. His hobbies and interests are writing
essays, going to the gym, browsing the Internet, Foreign Politics, learning
about cultures, reading , cooking Peruvian food, listening to American and
British Music...