Chile is mainly famous for things such as its national parks, unique plant and animal species, and the diversity of its climate zones; but it’s also known for the frequency and severity of earthquakes. Most people know enough to associate Chile with earthquakes, but what is less well-known is that Chile has successfully implemented world-class anti-seismic measures, dramatically reducing damages and fatalities. The strongest earthquake ever recorded, between a 9.4 and 9.6 magnitude, occurred near Valdivia in 1960, leveling huge sections of the city and resulting in thousands of deaths. Starting in the 1970’s anti-seismic building codes were introduced, and these codes have been modified and
If you’re thinking about moving to Chile with your family, the school you choose could be an important factor to consider. There are plenty of options in Chile, especially in and around Santiago, whether you want to find a public or private school. Public schools in Chile tend to be of lesser quality than private schools in terms of facilities, supplies, and extracurricular activities, and they are not completely government-funded, meaning that the parents cover part of the cost of tuition. Private schools, on the other hand, tend to be much more competitive and up-to-date, and of course more expensive. When looking for private schools, it’s important to differentiate between a Chilean priva
Photos by James Kraus On a cloudy day, it’s easy to miss the little island. The vibrant rolling hills fade into the center of the Pacific. The triangular island and its satellite islets have always symbolized mystery to me; the answer to the origin and histories of the Rapa Nui people was right in front of us, if we only knew how to interpret it. Our first morning on the island, we took our bikes along the eastern coast to Tongariki. There is nothing like rounding the far corner of the island at dawn to see the massive restored ahu, the jagged shore down below, and the cliffs of Rano Raraku behind us. The clouds had just cleared up and there was a rainbow framing the island. Rano Raraku was
