(Roughly) Daily

Thomas Pueyo on how geography shaped the longest (and proportionately thinnest) country in the world…

Chile is as long as the [vertical dimensions of]US and Canada combined.
Chile is as long as all of Europe!

Chile is so long, it’s curved.

How long is it?

Why not longer?

Why is no other country as thin?

How does that make Chileans incomprehensible?

These questions (and more) answered: “Why Is Chile So Long?” from @tomaspueyo

* (Chilean poet) Pablo Neruda

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As we stretch, we might recall that it was on this date in 1730 that the Valparaíso earthquake occurred. (As Pueyo explains, Chile’s unique geography and geology have frequently seismic implications.)

The quake had an estimated magnitude of 9.1–9.3 and triggered a major tsunami with an estimated magnitude of M_t  8.75, that inundated the lower parts of Valparaíso and caused severe damage from La Serena to Chillan; the tsunami affected more than 620 mi of Chile’s coastline.

While damage was widespread, only a few deaths were recorded due to the earthquake, reportedly because a strong foreshock had prompted people to leave their homes. Similarly, the subsequent tsunami: inhabitants ran to higher ground after seeing the water recede, so that only a few were killed.