Chile, and all that it's #HomeTo

Chile, the narrowest country in the world, spans over over 4,300km in length from North to South. Home to 19 million people in Western South America, Chile is also home to some iconic landmarks. But there is so much more that Chile is famous for. Keep reading to learn fun facts about this beautiful country.

#HomeTo - The Mysterious Easter Island

Almost 4,000km from Chile's coast, Easter Island (also known as Rapa Nui) is famous for large stone statues, known as moai. Built between the 13th and 16th century by the island's locals, these statues are monolithic human figures carved out of volcanic rock.

Varying in size from 3-20 metres high, the purpose of these statues is still not confirmed, but they represent historical cultural & spiritual practices of the island.

One of the recognised UNESCO world heritage sites, Easter Island brings visitors from all around the world.

#HomeTo - Atacama Desert which is the driest nonpolar desert in the world

The Atacama Desert stretches from North Chile into South Peru. One of the driest locations on the planet , the desert lies between the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean. The mountains block moisture from reaching the region leading to very little rainfall. In fact, the Atacama Desert has gone years without rainfall in the past.

High altitude and clear skies mean the desert is one of the best viewpoints on Earth, for gazing at stars, galaxies and more.

Despite the desert's environment, life is thriving here. With cacti, succulents, small mammals, reptiles, and birds calling the desert home, there's no shortage of activity. Another fun fact is that the Atacama is rich in mineral resources such as copper, nitrate and lithium.

#HomeTo - the port city of Valparaíso

Valparaíso is a coastal city in Chile located 120km from the capital, Santiago. Famous for colourful surroundings, beautiful views and rich culture, the city's recognised as the Jewel of the Pacific. There are so many interesting facts about Valparaíso including:

• Valparaíso is the third largest metropolitan areas in Chile

• Around 10,000,000 tonnes of cargo and 460,000 sea passengers move through this Chilean port city every year

• Rich art, culture, art galleries, theatres and museums live across the city. So it's no surprise that famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once owned a home in this city

#HomeTo - the active Osorno Volcano

Standing on the Southeastern shore of Llanquihue Lake in the Los Lagos Region of Chile, the Osorno Volcano is 2,652 metres above sea level. The volcano is as an active stratovolcano despite not erupting since 1869. Tourists flock to the area, given the lack of volcanic activity. Hiking, skiing, snowboarding, birdwatching and more make for an ideal holiday destination.

#HomeTo - dishes such as Pastel de Choclo

Chile's traditional dish, Pastel de Choclo is a corn casserole or pie, popular during Summer months. Prepared with sweetcorn, grounded into a paste, the dish gets seasoned with basil and pre-cooked with milk and lard. The filling is usually minced beef, onion, paprika and a range of spices, with some preferring to use chicken as a filling.

#HomeTo - some of the world's best Wine

Chile has been producing wine since the 16th century when Spanish conquerors brought grapevines to the country. Chile's unique geography makes it an ideal region for producing wine.Chile's dry climate means the vineyards are protected from pests and diseases, meaning Chile offers a variety of wine flavours.

The range of micro-climates from cooler coastal regions to warm valleys means the region which offers a diverse range of wine styles.The most famous wines produced include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah.

Another fun wine fact about Chile is that this South American country exports around 834 million litres of wine around the world per year.

#HomeTo - a Number of Species of Penguins

Chile is home to so many different types of adorable penguins. In fact, Chile is home to an estimated 20,000 penguins. This includes the following species:

• Humboldt Penguins are native to both Chile and Peru. You'll find Humboldts in Northern and Central Chile as they tend to breed in rocky coastal areas.

• Magellanic Penguins live in Southern Chile and breed on various island and coastal areas. Magellanics wear a distinctive black and white coat and use burrow-nesting behaviour.

• Gentoo Penguinsare less popular in Chile than other types of penguins but can be found in Southern Chile. These penguins are recognised by their orange bills and the white feathers on their heads.

• Famous to Antarctica, it's not rare to find King Penguins in Chilean waters, often near the Juan Fernández Islands. They are by far the largest species of Penguin.

#HomeTo - Passionate Football Fans

The Chile national team team have been playing since 1895 and have appeared at 9 World Cups, including finishing 3rd as hosts in 1962. After Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, Chile would be seen as the next biggest international football country in South America and boast 7 Copa America titles in their history with the most recent win in 2015. Some of their best ever footballers include Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas.

Chile may be home to around 19 million people but there are also so many proud Chileans located around the world. A lot of these people still have family and friends in Chile that they remain in contact with or send support to. One of the ways to stay in contact or support your loved ones in Chile is to send your loved ones at home mobile recharge which you can do in seconds with Ding.