This map of South America includes the Southeast Pacific region, including the Southeast Pacific Ocean, the coastal regions of Peru and Chile, and the Andes Mountains.
Click on image for full size
Image Courtesy of NASA's Earth Observatory
The Southeast Pacific Region
The Southeast Pacific region is a very diverse part of South America. It includes coasts along the ocean and the Andes mountains in Chile and Peru.
The climate of the Southeast Pacific is influenced by the Andes, ocean currents, and winds. These things cause upwelling in the ocean and help keep the ocean and air temperatures cool.
The coast of Peru and northern Chile has a subtropical desert climate. Fog is common on the coast, and the only precipitation is an occasional light drizzle. This area also contains the Atacama Desert, which is one of the driest places on the Earth. The Atacama Desert contains many minerals, including copper. Central Chile has a mild climate and receives more rain than the northern areas.
Chile has some island territories located in the Pacific Ocean, including Easter Island. Easter Island is 3,600 km (2,237 miles) off the coast of Chile and has a humid, subtropical climate.
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