Chile is beautiful festival of landscapes, mainly due to landforms systems which are manifestation of a multitude of living “forces” that emerge from the earth.
If we make a transversal cut across Chile, from west to east, we could find four types of formations which are changing depending on the region of the country where you are. Elements as mountains, valleys, coast mountains and coastlines, has its own meaning and determine the ‘character’ of each place and from the people who dwell in.
Valparaíso is not only the amazing and beautiful City-Port, is also the capital of a whole region located in Central Chile, with eight provinces in 400 kms area around, rich in biodiversity and ecosystems, from the littoral to the mountain range and natural riches supporting agricultural, fishing and rural activities. It’s characterized by being a geographic transition of the country, formed by four types of reliefs giving live to uniques landscapes with wildlife, flora and fauna.
In this part of the country, from the Pacific Ocean to Andes Mountain range you will perceive every corner of Chile and its energy from the sea, earth, mountains, and the pure sky. Let’s find out!
Andes Mountain Range in Central Chile / Cordillera de Los Andes
This is the world’s Longest Mountain range, with more than 7000 km, as the ‘spine’ of all South America, the average height is around 4000 meters, decreasing from north to south. In central Chile boasts some of the highest peaks, ‘El Aconcagua’, which is one of the regions of the Incas who once inhabited this zone. The range is also known for its volcanoes, ruins of long-ago and pre-hispanic civilizations settlements, even before the Inca Empire.
Central Valley/Transversal Valley of Central Chile:
Three large valleys can be distinguished because of their rivers: the Petorca, La Ligua and Aconcagua rivers. The first two are located in the north of the region and have their origin in the Andean mountain. Those are narrow, with slopes of strong slopes and are separated by a small cord of hills in crosswise. Valley is where the wine terroir were born, and the surrounded mountains give us a ‘system of orientation’.From the western edge of the Andean Mountains cross strands appear and extend to the ‘Cordillera de la Costa’ (Coast Mountains Range) framing in this way to these interior basins, it’s is a very unique phenomenon, when you stand in the valley you can see both reliefs on both sides.
Coastal Range of Central Chile (Cordillera de la Costa):
This relief system appears in the western sector of the Aconcagua valley with altitudes reaching 2000 meters, standing out the ‘Chache’ mountain, ‘El Roble’ and ‘La Campana’ with 1,812 meters of height, all framed in a mountain range high and well formed at about 35 to 40 kilometers from the coast.
The coastal plains are made through smooth and undulating hills that frame tectonic basins and modeled valleys such as the ‘Limache-Olmué’ basins (to the south of the ‘La Campana’ hill). As the mountain is notably higher in the south of the region, numerous hydrographic pits emerge from it that flow into the sea independent of the Andean river systems. It’s the area where you could feel the proximity to the ocean and the mountain beyond.
Coastal plains of Central Chile (Planicies Litorales):
These are developed widely in this region of Valparaiso and come to present up to four levels of stepping at the foot of the ‘Cordillera de la Costa’ (Coast mountains) merging with the river terraces in the valleys and estuaries. This unit is generally flat to slightly undulating and its maximum width is 20 to 30 km inland with a height of up to 140 meters above sea level. The lowest level is covered by dunes.
The “Llolleo” and The “Bato” cultures, were indigenous groups that coexisted around this area around 250 B.C., they had a very special relationship with the ocean, but not only because of the marine resources, they were sacred connected with the water.
Rivers are as real continuous biological system corridors or “veins” from were wildlife runs from beginning to end. In these landscapes you can find several hidden wetland treasures and its incredible aquatic flora and fauna, and many other wonderful surprises that are waiting for you on the way.
What are you waiting for?, Nature is calling!, grab those backpacks now and let’s go to visit these uniques places!
