National Adult Literacy Database

June 22, 1998

Harry Johal

Our story this week is a special event, because we are launching two learners stories on the Internet, and you can read their stories as well as hear them, with the proper audio program as shown below.

Luis Ortiz has been in Canada for two years. He studied English before he came, and after arriving, learned French. He is currently working hard at perfecting his English. Doing the same are his wife and two young children

Play an audio version of this story

Chile

by Luis Ortiz

Chile is a long, narrow country lying along the Pacific coast of South America. The weather varies widely between the north and south of the country, a distance about 4.000 Km. The north is warm and arid with the driest desert area in the world (rainfall 0%). The south is cold and rainy with a heavy snowfall.

Chile’s economy is based on the exportation of mined and agricultural products. Forestry and fishing are also important industries in Chile.

Chile has a wide variety of attractions for tourists, including fine beaches, ski resorts in the Andes, lakes, rivers, and desert scenery.

Chile’s population is about 14 million. Its immigrants come mainly from Spain, Yugoslavia, Germany and Italy. There also has been some immigrants from Turkey, Arabic countries and China.

Earthquakes occur on a regular basis, smaller ones as often as 5 to 10 a year. The major ones happen every 6 to 8 years. Seismologist say there are about 200 very small “movements” every day.

Flooding is the other major problem Chileans battles out with nature. Chile’s geography is such that flood occurs, without fail every winter. They occur where the population is the most dense; in the middle of the country. Clear-cutting of the forests and the vast snow-capped mountain range contribute to the devastating intensity of Chile’s annual flooding.

Chile also has 80% of the Andes mountain range volcanos. One eruption occurs about every 3 years, destroying cultivated land and animals.

Included in Chilean territory are the Easter Island and a part of Antarctica. Chile, along with Argentina, can claim that they have the remain of the original ice-age glaciers. Of course, we cannot talk about Chile without mentioning our best-known ambassador - the penguins. There are many varieties of these fascinating birds, who along with Chile’s other features make it a natural attraction for visitors.