Geography
Like the Andes, the coastal range becomes progressively lower with increasing latitude. The range begins at Morro de Arica in the north and reaches its highest point, of 3114 m, in Sierra Vicuña Mackenna in the Antofagasta Region. Between Copiapó and Aconcagua rivers, in the so called Norte Chico region, the range fuses with the Andes. Just north of Santiago the range separates from the Andes but comes close to it again near Paine, a southern suburb of Santiago, and San Fernando. From Santiago south the range loses height until reaching the Bío-Bío River, beyond which the Nahuelbuta range emerges which reaches about 1500 m in its central parts. South of Nahuelbuta Range, in the Araucanía Region, the coastal range is replaced by a flatland area. South of Toltén River the range rises again as the Cordillera de Mahuidanchi. Beyond the heights of Corral this range changes into Cordillera Pelada. From Chacao Channel south the range is penetrated by the sea creating islands and peninsulas. Chiloé Island, the largest of these, has two ranges: Piuchén Range from Chacao Channel to Cucao Lake and Pirulil Range in the southern half. South of Chiloé the portions of the range above sea level form the Guaitecas and the Chonos Archipelagos. The southern extreme of the range forms the Taitao Peninsula and its sub-peninsula Tres Montes.
The range can be divided in several minor ranges. Some of these ranges and their boundaries are:
- Sierra Vicuña Mackenna (24-25° S)
- Cordillera de Nahuelbuta (37-38° S)
- Imperial-Toltén River lowland
- Cordillera de Queule (39°)
- Cordillera de Mahuidanchi (39° S)
- Cordillera Pelada (40-41° S)
- Piuchén Range (42° S)
- Cucao and Huillinco Lake
- Pirulil Range (42-43° S)
Read more about this topic: Chilean Coast Range
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