Geography of Chile

Strait of Magellan

This is a navigable strait in the southeastern part of Chile that separates the mainland from Tierra del Fuego. It is the most important natural passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and it is considered difficult to navigate due to unpredictable winds and currents and its narrowness. This strait and the Drake Passage were the only sea routes for large cargo ships through the Americas before the opening of the Panama Canal.

Drake Passage

This is a wide passage south of Chile that connects the Scotia Sea of the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. It separates South America from Antarctica, and is the smallest gap between Antarctica and any other large landmass. This passage is the most popular route for ships traveling to Antarctica, although it is known for its rough seas and icebergs which make navigation difficult.

Tierra del Fuego

This is an archipelago in the southernmost part of Chile that is shared with Argentina. It is makes up of all the islands south of the Strait of Magellan, and its southernmost point of Cape Horn is the southernmost point in South America. This archipelago's name means "land of fire" in Spanish, and its climate is similar to that of Iceland.

Pacific Ocean

This is an ocean that makes up the west coast of Chile. It lies between South America and Oceania.

Santiago

This is the capital and largest city in Chile, located in the central part of the country. It is situated on the Mapocho River in a bowl-shaped basin near the Andes Mountains, and it is a close drive from both the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. This city is the country's industrial and commercial center, and it is threatened by earthquakes as it lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Chilean peso

This is the currency of Chile.

Atacama Desert

This is the driest non-polar desert in the world. It is located in the northwestern corner of Chile on a narrow strip of land along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, and its aridity is due to a double-sided rain shadow cast by the Chilean Coast Range and the Andes Mountains. This desert has drawn comparisons to the surface of Mars, and because of this it has been used as a filming location for movies and as a testing location for NASA's new instruments.

Nevado Ojos del Salado

This is the highest mountain in Chile, at 22,615 feet. It is located in the Andes Mountains in the northeastern part of the country, and is an active stratovolcano. This mountain is named for the enormous deposits of salt that appear in its glaciers, and it is generally very dry due to its proximity to the Atacama Desert. The highest lake in the world is thought to be a small crater lake near the summit of this mountain.

Andes Mountains

This is the longest continental mountain range in the world, extending in a continuous chain through the countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. It is the highest in the world outside of Asia, and its many smaller parallel ranges are separated by high plateaus that are home to some of South America's major cities. This range is part of the vast American Cordillera, and it is less than 150 miles wide for most of its length. The highest mountain in Chile, Nevado Ojos del Salado, is situated in this range.

Cape Horn

This is the southernmost point in South America, located at Chile's southern end on an island of a very similar name to the cape. It makes up the northern end of the Drake Passage, and is notorious as being dangerous to navigate for several reasons. This cape is considered to be the "Mount Everest of yachting", and it was sailed around as one of the major shipping routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific before the building of the Panama Canal.