Located approximately 500 miles south of Santiago, Valdivia is considered a major city in Southern Chile. Picturesque beaches, lakes, and volcanoes surround Valdivia, the center of culture and industry for the region of Los Lagos. Valdivia is alive with the presence of the past, as seen in centuries-old Spanish fortresses that remain as a testimony of proud history. A land of extremes, this geologically diverse country boasts a desert wealthy in minerals to the north and a central region abundant with agricultural resources. Southern Chile is rich with innumerable forests, lakes, volcanoes, fjords, inlets, twisting peninsulas, and islands. Students can visit surrounding areas such as Puerto Montt, a nearby fishing town; Pucón, a lakeside resort town near an active volcano; and Isla Huapi, an island botanical preserve—there is much to see and do in Valdivia. As the only U.S.-sponsored program at the Universidad Austral de Chile, and in an area with few English-speaking visitors, Valdivia makes an excellent location for students wishing to perfect their Spanish language skills.