Chile and its claimed geographical centre

Chile is considered the longest country in the world. It is over 4,300 km (2,670 miles) north to south, from Peru to the north at latitude 17°30′ S, to the tip of South America at Cape Horn, latitude 56° S, a point only about 644 km (400 miles) north of Antarctica. A long, narrow country, it has an average width of only about 175 km (110 miles).

It is the world's southernmost country that is geographically on the mainland.

So when I was near the bottom end of Chile, i.e. in the south at Punta Arenas, I was surprised to be taken to a place that is considered to be the geographic centre of Chile. 

I then realised that this is because Chile claims 1,250,000 km2 (480,000 sq mi) of Antarctica as part of its territory (Chilean Antarctic Territory). However, this latter claim is suspended under the terms of the 1955 Antarctic Treaty, of which Chile is a signatory.

Hito de la Mitad de Chile - Monument of the Centre of Chile -

The monument is 58 km south of Punta Arenas and is close to Fort Bulnes. There is also a statue to the Virgin Mary and a religious procession comes here once a year -

Map of Chile's claim including Antarctica down to the South Pole -