The world's longest country, the ribbon-like Republic of Chile extends for about 2,650 miles (4,265 km) along the Pacific coast of southwestern South America. A land of great beauty and contrasts, Chile features the snow-capped volcanic peaks of the Andes to the east, the extremely dry Atacama Desert to its north, and rainy, thick forests to the south. Most of the approximately 18 million Chileans live in the mild climate of the Central Valley, where farms produce abundant crops and industrial cities thrive. Mining is an important part of the country's economy, with Chile annually producing about one-third of the world's copper. The country is also known for exports of fresh fruit. Today, Chile is one of the most stable and democratic nations of South America. There's a lot to discover about Chile!