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Chile Cities with Hotels
 Chile, republic in southwestern South America, bounded on the north by Peru, on the east by Bolivia and Argentina, and on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. It has an extreme northern-southern length of approximately 4270 km (about 2650 mi), but its average width is less than 180 km (less than 110 mi). Archipelagoes extend along the southern Chilean coast from Chiloé Island to Cape Horn, the southernmost point of the South American continent. Among these are the Chonos Archipelago, Wellington Island, and the western portion of Tierra del Fuego. Other islands belonging to Chile include the Juan Fernández Islands, Easter Island, and Sala y Gómez, all of which lie in the South Pacific. The country has a total area of 756,945 sq km (292,258 sq mi). Chile also claims a section of Antarctica. The country's capital and largest city is Santiago.
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Chile
Land and Resources
The dominant physical feature of Chile is the Andes
Mountains, which extend the entire length of the country, from the
Bolivian
plateau in the north to Tierra del Fuego in the south.
Physical Regions
Chile can be divided longitudinally into three topographic
zones: the lofty Andean cordillera on the east; the low coastal mountains on
the west; and the plateau area, which includes the Central Valley, between
these ranges. Latitudinally, three major geographical and climatological
regions can be distinguished: the northern (arid), central (Mediterranean),
and southern (temperate marine) regions.
The ranges of the Andes are widest in the northern region,
forming broad plateaus and containing many mountains with elevations in
excess of 6100 m (more than 20,000 ft). The country's highest peak, Ojos del
Salado (6893 m/22,615 ft), is found on the border with Argentina. The
plateau area is occupied by the great Atacama Desert, which contains vast
nitrate fields and rich mineral deposits.
In the central region the plateau gives way to a valley,
known as the Central Valley, about 1000 km (about 600 mi) long. The valley,
which ranges from 40 to 80 km (25 to 50 mi) in width, is the most heavily
populated area of the country. The fertile area between the Aconcagua and
Bío-Bío rivers forms the agricultural heartland of Chile. The central Andes
are narrower in width and have lower elevations than those in the north. The
most important passes in the Andes are located here. The country's finest
natural harbors are located in this region.
The southern region is without an interior valley; it
disappears below the sea at Puerto Montt. The long chains of islands along
the coast are formed by the peaks of the submerged coastal mountains. The
coastline here is indented by numerous fjords. The southern Andes have
elevations that seldom exceed about 1800 m (about 6000 ft). Chile lies in a
zone of geologic instability and is subject to earthquakes and volcanic
activity.
Rivers and Lakes
The many rivers of Chile are relatively short, generally
rising in the Andes and flowing west to the Pacific. In the northern and
central regions the rivers are fed primarily by the perpetual snow cover of
the Andes. The most important rivers (from north to south) are the Loa,
Elqui, Aconcagua, Maipo, Maule, Bío-Bío, and Imperial. Although of limited
value for navigation because of cascades, the rivers are vital for the
irrigation waters and hydroelectric power they furnish. Many of Chile's
major lakes, including Lake Llanquihue, are concentrated in the scenic lake
district of the southern region.
Climate
Because of its great latitudinal range, Chile has a diversity
of climates. In general, temperatures are moderated by oceanic influences.
The northern region is almost entirely desert and is one of
the driest areas in the world. Temperatures, however, are moderated by the
offshore presence of the cold
Peru, or Humboldt, Current. The average
temperatures at Antofagasta range from 17° to 24° C (63° to 76° F) in
January and from 11° to 17° C (51° to 63° F) in July. In Santiago the
average range is 12° to 29° C (53° to 85° F) in January and 3° to 15° C (37°
to 59° F) in July. Temperatures decrease about 1° C for each 150 m (about 1°
F for each 275 ft) of altitude in the Andes. Rainfall increases southward,
and the central region experiences a Mediterranean-like climate.
Precipitation here is concentrated in the winter months (May to August) and
ranges from an annual total of about 360 mm (about 14 in) at Santiago to
about 14 mm (about 0.5 in) at Antofagasta. Winters here are mild, and
summers are relatively cool. The southern region is cooler and experiences
year-round rainfall. Precipitation reaches a maximum of about 5000 mm (about
200 in) near the Strait of Magellan, much of it in the form of snow. The
average annual temperature at Punta Arenas in the far south is about 7° C
(about 44° F). Strong winds and cyclonic storms are common in the southern region.
"Chile," Microsoft® Encarta® 97 Encyclopedia.
© 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Last Revised:
November 17, 2007 10:00 PM. |
