Chile may be defined as a country tricontinental because it stretches in South America, Antarctica and Oceania. Its 17 million inhabitants have a human development index, percentage of globalization, GDP per capita, level of economic growth and quality of life among the highest in Latin America with Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico and Brazil.
The continental territory of Chile is located on a long strip of land situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes and extends for about 4,200 km with an average width of about 200 km, maximum width, 445 km, is match the Strait of Magellan (52 ° 21 'S), whose entrance on the eastern reaches of the Atlantic Ocean, while the minimum is 90 km to 31 ° 37' S. The Chilean territory extends between 17 ° 30 'S and 56 ° 30' S latitude.
Chile is located in an area in the belt of fire and high seismic risk due to movements of the subduction of the Nazca plate against the South American plate. At the end of the Paleozoic, the territory of Chile was a depression that sea began to rise towards the end of the Mesozoic due to the collision between the Nazca and South American plate, which originated from the collision the Andes. The next settlement movements and erosion have given relief to the current form.
They are part of Chile some island territories in the Pacific Ocean, such as Easter Island and Juan Fernandez Islands, also claims to advance an area of ​​Antarctica.
The extreme north of the country, called in Spanish Norte Grande (Big North) extends from the border with Peru to 27 degrees latitude, about the height of the Copiapo River, this part of the country is characterized by extreme aridity , here is the Atacama Desert, one of the driest areas of the planet, the scenery is extremely varied and spectacular, full of hills and mountains and various iridescent colors due to their different mineral composition.
The northern end rises vertically from the coast reaching altitudes above 1000 m sln, parallel to the coast and the Andes mountain range rises the Domeyko. The varied topography of the coast generates areas with microclimates special pads trap the mists that rise from the cold waters of the ocean and the moisture condenses on the leaves of vegetation. Beyond the coastal mountains lies a vast plateau with rolling hills that includes the arid desert areas limited to the east by the Andes. At the edge of the desert there are sometimes underground aquifers that have permitted the growth of forests composed of Prosopis tamarugo, typical of a thorny plant that reaches 25 m in height. Most of the forests were felled to obtain fuel for many foundries built since colonial times to exploit the abundant deposits of copper, silver and nitrate found in this area, felling of forests has made the area even more arid.
The heavy rainfall during the summer months cause the formation of salt lakes that are home to numerous species of birds, including the Chilean flamingo. The rivers are mostly short in their courses descending from the Andes form the oases at times, they slip into sandbars and marshes, often have systems endorheic. Some rivers reach the Pacific Ocean, between them the river Loa, which has a characteristic U-shaped path and is the main river in the country. The rivers form narrow valleys where the vegetation is abundant, creating a striking contrast to the arid hills. The roads were usually built in the more arid to allow greater exploitation of irrigated agriculture. The main wealth of the region, however, are the mineral resources. In this part of town is the mine of Chuquicamata, the largest open pit copper mine in the world. Since the seventies there was, in the main ports in the region such as the Iquique and Antofagasta, a development linked to the fishing industry.
The Norte Grande is bordered on the east by a portion of the Andes geologically relatively recent, and has several stratovolcanoes that rises from the northern border to reach the 6,880 m with the volcano Ojos del Salado located just south of the 27th parallel to the height of the city of Copiapo (and therefore included in the region of Norte Chico).
The average temperatures in the coastal area, where the majority of the population of
The heavy rainfall during the summer months cause the formation of salt lakes that are home to numerous species of birds, including the Chilean flamingo. The rivers are mostly short in their courses descending from the Andes form the oases at times, they slip into sandbars and marshes, often have systems endorheic. Some rivers reach the Pacific Ocean, between them the river
Loa has a characteristic U-shaped path and is the main river in the country. The rivers form narrow valleys where the vegetation is abundant, creating a striking contrast to the arid hills. The roads were usually built in the more arid to allow greater exploitation of irrigated agriculture. The main wealth of the region, however, are the mineral resources. In this part of town is the mine of Chuquicamata, the largest open pit copper mine in the world. Since the seventies there was, in the main ports in the region such as the Iquique and Antofagasta, a development linked to the fishing industry.
The Norte Grande is bordered on the east by a portion of the Andes geologically relatively recent, and has several stratovolcanoes that rises from the northern border to reach the 6,880 m with the volcano Ojos del Salado located just south of the 27th parallel to the height of the city of Copiapo (and therefore included in the region of Norte Chico).
The average temperatures in the coastal area, where the majority of the population of this region are between 20.5 ° C in summer and 14 ° C in winter.
The area called the Norte Chico (Little North) extends from the Copiapo River up to 32 degrees latitude, just north of Santiago, Chile's semiarid region, the monthly rainfall of only four winter months are about 25 mm and are very little in the remaining months. The average summer temperature at sea level is 18.5 ° C, the winter is 12 ° C. The winter rains and melting snows of the Andes give rise to rivers with highly variable flow rate during the year, the deep transverse valleys carved out by their courses offer space for cattle breeding and fruit crops, development activities in large Since the mid-seventies. This is also the area of ​​production of virtually the entire Chilean pisco.
construction of astronomical observatories in this region are the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and the observatory at La Silla.
In the Andes of the Norte Chico are some of the main peaks of the country, the Ojos del Salado, Tres Cruces and Incahuasi.
The Central Zone
The central part of Chile (called Central) houses most of the country's population and includes three main urban areas of Santiago, Valparaíso and Concepción. It extends from 32 ° S to 37 ° S latitude, the area is characterized by the presence of two mountain ranges, the Cordillera de la Costa parallel to the coast and the Andes, between the two chains is a broad valley called depresión Intermediate or Longitudinal Valley. The climate is Mediterranean, rainfall increases to the southeast. In the Santiago area, average temperatures are equal to 19.5 degrees C in the summer months of January and February, and down to 7.5 ° C during the months of June and July. The monthly average rainfall is about 69.7 mm in winter and in summer they are inconsistent. .
In Concepción the average summer temperatures are slightly lower (17.6 ° C), however, are higher than winter (9.3 ° C), rainfall is most abundant in summer, the monthly average is 20 mm in June and July and reaches the 253 mm per month. The numerous rivers greatly increase their range following the winter rains and melting snow. The heavy snowfall in the Andes and the relatively mild winter temperatures creates excellent conditions for downhill skiing.
Between the two mountain ranges lies the so-called Central Valley, an area suitable for agricultural exploitation, especially in the northern part. In the areas north and south of Santiago is grown fruit and grapes from which are derived the increasingly popular Chilean wines. The export of fruits has increased dramatically since the mid 70's, when farmers began to export Chilean fruit in the northern hemisphere, using the fact of being in the season opposite the fruit that is exported as the first fruits. The transport of apples, peaches and grapes are, however, made by freezer vessels, while the berries are transported by air.
The area sur
Although there are also several lakes in the coastal area and the Andean region of central Chile, Zona sur can be defined as the lake area of ​​the country. It extends from beneath the river Bío-Bío at about 37 ° to the south of the island of Chiloé to the latitude of about 43.4 ° S. In this region the valley between the Andes and the cordillera of the coast has a lower altitude than the central area, and the many rivers that descend from the Andean mountains tend to have greater range, some, especially the Calle-Calle river that flows near the city of Valdivia are, for short distances, navigable. The extreme southern end of the central depression in the Pacific Ocean, forming the Gulf of Ancud Chiloe island bordered to the west, the latest offshoot of the Cordillera de la Costa.
This region is one of the wettest on the planet, in particular the city of Valdivia has an annual rainfall amounted to 2535.4 mm. The summer months (January and February) are the least rainfall with a monthly average of 60/70 mm, the winter months (June and July) have a monthly average of 410.6 mm. The temperatures are relatively mild, the average summer in Valdivia and equal to 16.7 degrees and the winter is 7.9 °.
The lakes of the region, from the clear turquoise blue waters, present themselves to the background of snow-capped peaks of the Andes, creating a very pleasant contrast, the rivers that flow down from the Andes volcanic rocks, forming numerous waterfalls, vegetation, rich in ferns is lush, there are several original forests and spring blooms of wildflowers abound. The pastures in the northern part, around the volcano Osorno, are exploited for the breeding of cattle, are produced milk, cheese and butter. The area is growing every kind of berry, the berries are exported and are bred in the waters of rivers for trout and salmon. Also significant is the exploitation of timber. In summer the region is visited by many tourists, especially from Chile and Argentina.
Many endemic species have been depleted or are limited in the few areas of wilderness escaped the invasion of man. This is the case of huemul, a species of deer and the Chilean condor, the largest birds of this family, both animals are
represented on the emblem of the country. The last Chilean Puma, larger than their cousins ​​in California and decimated by sheep and goats, live in the national parks of this region.

The austral zone corresponding to the extreme south of the country ranges from 43 ° -44 ° of south latitude to Cape Horn. The coast is very indented with numerous islands and fjords carved between high mountains that seem to rise from the sea such as the Cerro Maca (2,300 m) near Puerto Aisén. In the region there are thousands of islands forming numerous archipelagos among which there are the shipping lanes.
The northern part of the region has abundant rainfall in Puerto Aisen, (45 ° 24 'S) annual rainfall amounted to 2973.3 mm distributed in a balanced manner throughout, in the summer months, temperatures average about 13.6 ° C while in the winter months are 4.7 ° C. Despite the climate of the area is mostly cold and wet the presence of fjords, snowy mountains and islands of all shapes and style with spectacular views, the vegetation is abundant with many forests.
The Southern region includes Punta Arenas, the southernmost city on the planet. Precipitation is less than the higher latitudes, the annual total is 438.5 mm distributed throughout the year, precipitation in the winter months is intended for snow. The temperatures are more rigid than in the rest of the country, in the summer average is 11.1 ° C, dropping to 2.5 ° in winter the climate is further stiffened by the wind almost constant from the South Pacific Ocean.
The region abounds in southern pastures used for sheep farming, other economic activities are the extraction of oil and natural gas in the Strait of Magellan which is one of the most important seaways in the world because it allows avoid the treacherous waters of Cape Horn. The navigation in the Strait of Magellan, however, requires the presence on board of the Chilean pilots.