Llama de la Libertad facts for kids

The Llama de la Libertad or Eternal Flame of Liberty (which means "Flame of Liberty" in Spanish) was a special ceremonial flame in Santiago, Chile. It was located in a place called Plaza Bulnes. This flame was lit on September 11, 1975, by Augusto Pinochet. It was meant to remember the 1973 Chilean coup d'etat, which was a big change in Chile's government. The Llama de la Libertad was part of a larger monument called Altar de la Patria (meaning "Altar of the Motherland"). It was a symbol of the military government that ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990.

Why Was the Flame Important?

The Llama de la Libertad was more than just a fire. It was a powerful symbol during a time when Chile was ruled by a military government. This type of government is called a military dictatorship. It means the country was controlled by the armed forces, not by elected leaders. The flame was a way to remember the events of September 11, 1973, when the military took control.

When the Flame Went Out

The Llama de la Libertad burned for many years, but eventually, it was put out.

Discussions About Funding

In 2003, the government announced that it would stop paying for the flame. This was because of budget cuts, meaning they needed to save money. The mayor of Providencia, Cristián Labbé, offered to pay for the flame from his city's budget. However, a few days later, the Ministry of National Defense announced that they would pay for it instead.

The Final Extinguishing

On October 18, 2004, the Llama de la Libertad was finally put out. This happened because of construction work in the area. They were building a new part of the city called the Barrio Cívico. This new area was being built to celebrate the upcoming Bicentennial of Chile, which was Chile's 200th birthday as an independent nation.

A similar flame, also lit by Pinochet, was located in Punta Arenas. That flame was put out later, in 2013.

See also

In Spanish: Llama Eterna de la Libertad para niños