Chile Quiz #3 Answers

1. Chile land area is 285,133 square miles. What US state is closest in land area to Chile?

Answer: Texas (261,797 sq. miles)

2. Why is Chile called Chile?

Answer: There are various theories about the origin of the word Chile. According to one theory the Incas of Peru, who had failed to conquer the Araucanians, called the valley of the Aconcagua "Chili" by corruption of the name of a tribal chief ("cacique") called Tili, who ruled the area at the time of the Incan conquest. Another theory points to the similarity of the valley of the Aconcagua with that of the Casma Valley in Peru, where there was a town and valley named Chili.
Other theories say Chile may derive its name from the indigenous Mapuche word chilli, which may mean "where the land ends," "the deepest point of the Earth", or "sea gulls;" or from the Quechua chin, "cold", or the Aymara tchili meaning "snow."
Another meaning attributed to chilli is the onomatopoeic cheele-cheele—the Mapuche imitation of a bird call. The Spanish conquistadors heard about this name from the Incas and the few survivors of Diego de Almagro's first Spanish expedition south from Peru in 1535-36 called themselves the "men of Chilli."

3. If you have been reading the blog this should be easy. How many varieties of Chilean fruit are exported worldwide?

Answer: 200 varieties

4. The River Simpson (located in southern Chile) is famous for what water sport?

Answer: Fly Fishing