Chile
Santiago
Welcome to Chile! Santiago is a busy modern city tucked into a valley, with the tallest building in South America rising up in front of the huge snow-capped Andes Mountains. On a clear day it looks like the mountains are close enough to touch.
Why is it famous?
Santiago sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains, so nearly every view in the city includes soaring, snow-topped peaks in the background.
The Gran Torre Santiago is the tallest skyscraper in South America, towering over the rest of the city's skyline.
How was it built?
Spanish explorer Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago nearly 500 years ago, choosing a spot with fertile soil and a river running through it.
Because Chile sits on the edge of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' engineers design Santiago's tallest buildings, like the Gran Torre, with special flexible frames that can bend and sway safely during earthquakes.
Amazing facts
The Gran Torre Santiago stands 300 meters (980 feet) tall, with an observation deck near the top offering views all the way to the Andes.
A giant statue of the Virgin Mary stands on top of Cerro San Cristóbal, visible from almost anywhere in the city below.
Quick facts
- The Gran Torre Santiago stands 300 meters (980 feet) tall, with an observation deck near the top offering views all the way to the Andes.
- A giant statue of the Virgin Mary stands on top of Cerro San Cristóbal, visible from almost anywhere in the city below.
- Santiago's cable car, or teleférico, glides riders across the top of San Cristóbal park with the entire skyline and snowy mountains spread out beneath them.
- La Moneda, Chile's presidential palace, has giant reflecting pools in front of it that mirror the building's grand columns.