The far north is the only part of the country in
which there is a large section of the Andean
(plateau). The area receives considerable
rainfall during the summer months in what is
commonly known as the "Bolivian winter," forming
shallow lakes of mostly saline waters that are
home to a number of bird species, including the
Chilean flamingo. Some of the water from the
plateau trickles down the Andes in the form of
narrow rivers, many of which form oases before
being lost to evaporation or absorption into the
desert sands, salt beds, and aquifers. However,
some rivers do manage to reach into the Pacific,
including the Río Loa, whose U-shaped course
across the desert makes it Chile's longest river.
The water rights for one of the rivers, the Río
Lauca, remain a source of dispute between Bolivia
and Chile. These narrow rivers have carved
fertile valleys in which an exuberant vegetation
creates a stark contrast to the bone-dry hills.
In such areas, roads usually are built half way
up the arid elevations in order to maximize the
intensive agricultural use of the irrigated land.
They offer spectacular panoramic vistas, along
with the harrowing experience of driving along
the edges of cliffs.
As in the for north, the coastal areas of the
near north have a distinct microclimate. In those
sections where the airborne moisture of the sea
is trapped by high bluffs overlooking the ocean,
temperate rain forests develop as the vegetation
precipitates the vapor in the form of a misty
rain. Because the river valleys provide breaks in
the coastal elevations, maritime moisture can
penetrate inland and further decrease the
generally arid climate in those valleys. The
higher elevations in the interior sections are
covered with shrubs and cacti of various kinds.
Central Chile (Chile Central), home to a majority
of the population, includes the three largest
metropolitan areas-- Santiago, Valparaíso, and
Concepción. It extends from about 32° south
latitude to about 38° south latitude. The climate
is of the temperate Mediterranean type, with the
amount of rainfall increasing considerably and
progressively from north to south. In the
Santiago area, the average monthly temperatures
are about 19.5° C in the summer months of January
and February and 7.5° C in the winter months of
June and July. The average monthly precipitation
is no more than a trace in January and February
and 69.7 millimeters in June and July. By
contrast, in Concepción the average monthly
temperatures are somewhat lower in the summer at
17.6° C but higher in the winter at 9.3° C, and
the amount of rain is much greater. In the
summer, Concepción receives an average of twenty
millimeters of rain per month; in June and July,
the city is pounded by an average of 253
millimeters per month. The numerous rivers
greatly increase their flow as a result of the
winter rains and the spring melting of the Andean
snows, and they contract considerably in the
summer. The combination of abundant snow in the
Andes and relatively moderate winter temperatures
creates excellent conditions for Alpine skiing.
The south is one of the rainiest areas in the
world. One of the wettest spots in the region is
Valdivia, with an annual rainfall of 2,535.4
millimeters. The summer months of January and
February are the driest, with a monthly average
precipitation of sixty-seven millimeters. The
winter months of June and July each produce on
average a deluge of 410.6 millimeters.
Temperatures in the area are moderate. In
Valdivia, the two summer months average 16.7° C,
whereas the winter months average 7.9° C.
In the northern part of the far south, there is
still plenty of rainfall. For instance, Puerto
Aisén, at 45°24' south latitude, receives 2,973.3
millimeters of rain per year. However, unlike in
Valdivia, the rain falls more or less evenly
throughout the year in Puerto Aisén. The summer
months average 206.1 millimeters, whereas the
winter months average 300 millimeters. The
temperatures at sea level in Puerto Aisén average
13.6° C in the summer months and 4.7° C in the
winter months. Although the area generally is
chilly and wet, the combination of channels,
fjords, snowcapped mountains, and islands of all
shapes and sizes within such a narrow space makes
for breathtaking views. The area is still heavily
forested, although some of the native species of
trees that grow in the central and southern parts
of the country have given way to others better
adapted to a generally colder climate.
The southern part of the far south includes the
city of Punta Arenas, which, with about 125,000
inhabitants, is the southernmost city of any
appreciable size in the world. It receives much
less precipitation; its annual total is only
438.5 millimeters, or a little more than what
Valdivia receives in the month of June alone.
This precipitation is distributed more or less
evenly throughout the year, with the two main
summer months receiving a monthly average of
thirty-one millimeters and the winter months 38.9
millimeters, some of it in the form of snow.
Temperatures are colder than in the rest of the
country. The summer months average 11.1° C, and
the winter months average 2.5° C. The virtually
constant wind from the South Pacific Ocean makes
the air feel much colder.
NOTE: The information regarding Chile on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Chile Climate information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Chile Climate should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.