▁ 1 8 8 1 ▁between ▁Chile ▁and ▁Argentina ▁confirmed ▁Chile an ▁so vere ig nt y ▁over ▁the ▁Stra it ▁of ▁Mag ellan . ▁As ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁War ▁of ▁the ▁Pacific ▁with ▁Peru ▁and ▁Boliv ia ▁( 1 8 7 9 – 8 3 ), ▁Chile ▁expanded ▁its ▁territory ▁north ward ▁by ▁almost ▁one - third , ▁elimin ating ▁Boliv ia ' s ▁access ▁to ▁the ▁Pacific , ▁and ▁acquired ▁valuable ▁nit rate ▁depos its , ▁the ▁explo itation ▁of ▁which ▁led ▁to ▁an ▁era ▁of ▁national ▁aff lu ence . ▁Chile ▁had ▁joined ▁the ▁stand ▁as ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁high - in come ▁countries ▁in ▁South ▁America ▁by ▁ 1 8 7 0 . ▁ ▁Occ up ation ▁of ▁Ara uc an ía ▁▁ ▁To ▁its ▁south ▁and ▁east , ▁Chile ▁used ▁military ▁force ▁and ▁colon ization ▁to ▁occup y ▁Ara uc an ía ▁( 1 8 6 1 - 1 8 8 3 ) ▁and ▁successfully ▁dispute ▁Argent ine ▁claims ▁over ▁western most ▁Pat ag onia ▁and ▁the ▁Stra it ▁of ▁Mag ellan — the ▁out break ▁of ▁war ▁only ▁narrow ly ▁avoided ▁in ▁multiple ▁occasions . ▁ ▁Col on ization ▁of ▁Pat ag onia ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁same ▁time , ▁attempts ▁were ▁made ▁to ▁strength en ▁so vere ig nt y ▁in ▁southern ▁Chile ▁intens ifying ▁pen etr ation ▁into ▁Ara uc an ía ▁and ▁colon izing ▁L lan qu ih ue ▁with ▁German ▁imm igr ants ▁in ▁ 1 8 4 8 . ▁Through ▁the ▁found