Natural Regions Of Chile
Because Chile extends from a point about 625 kilometers north of the Tropic of Capricorn to a point hardly more than 1,400 kilometers north of the Antarctic Circle, within its territory can be found a broad selection of the Earth's climates.
In 1950, CORFO defined, following a criteria of geographic and economical homogeniety, six regions in continental Chile: Norte Grande, Norte Chico, Núcleo Central, Concepción y La Frontera, Los Lagos and Los Canales.
Although this territorial division was never used as administrative entities, as the current Regions of Chile, the natural regions continue to be used as reference.
These natural regions are (ordered from north to south and reduced to five natural regions):
Natural Regions | Regions of Chile | Characteristics |
---|---|---|
Norte Grande (Far North) | Arica-Parinacota Region | Desert climate, coastal cliffs, high coast range, intermediate depression and Andes.
Plateaus in the Andes. Salt flats, copper and saltpeter deposits in the interior. |
Tarapacá Region | ||
Antofagasta Region | ||
North Atacama Region | ||
Copiapó River (27° S) | ||
Norte Chico (Near North) | South Atacama Region | Semi-arid climate. Coast range and Andes merge, tranversal east-west valleys
instead of intermediate depression. No volcanism. |
Coquimbo Region | ||
North Valparaíso Region | ||
Aconcagua River (33° S) | ||
Zona Central (Central Chile) | South Valparaíso Region | Mediterranean climate and Matorral vegetation. Coast range
and Andes separates to the south, fertile intermediate depression. |
Santiago Metropolitan Region | ||
O'Higgins Region | ||
Maule Region | ||
North Bío-Bío Region | ||
Bío-Bío River (37° S) | ||
Zona Sur (Southern Zone) | South Bío-Bío Region | Temperate oceanic climate and Valdivian vegetation. Coast range and Andes are low,
intermediate depression near sea level. Glacial lakes, intensive volcanic and geothermal activity. |
Araucanía Region | ||
Los Ríos Region | ||
North Los Lagos Region | ||
Chacao Channel (42° S) | ||
Zona Austral (Austral Zone) | South Los Lagos Region | Subpolar oceanic climate and Magellanic vegetation. Glacial landscape; Coast range consists of islands, intermediate depression under sea level. Fjords and ice fields in the Andes. |
Aisén Region | ||
Magallanes Region |
Each has its own characteristic vegetation, fauna, climate, and, despite the omnipresence of both the Andes and the Pacific, its own distinct topography.
Read more about Natural Regions Of Chile: Norte Grande, Norte Chico, Zona Central, Zona Sur, Zona Austral, See Also
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