Editing Geography of Chile (section)

==Physical geography==
{{Section rewrite|date=January 2025}}{{More citations needed|section|date=January 2025}}[[Image:Tricontinental Chile and the Chilean Sea.png|thumb|left|Map of ''[[Tricontinental Chile]]'' with possessions in [[Oceania]] ([[Easter Island]]), [[South America]] and the claim in [[Antarctica]]: [[Chilean Antarctic Territory]], including the [[continental shelf of Chile|country's continental shelf]]]]
The northern two-thirds of Chile lie on top of the telluric [[Nazca Plate]], which, moving eastward about ten centimeters a year, is forcing its way under the continental plate of South America. This movement has resulted in the formation of the [[Peru–Chile Trench]]. At its deepest point, the trench descends to over {{convert|8,000|m}}.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fisher |first1=Robert L. |last2=Raitt |first2=Russell W. |date=1962-11-01 |title=Topography and structure of the Peru-Chile trench |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0011747162900943 |journal=Deep Sea Research and Oceanographic Abstracts |volume=9 |issue=11 |pages=423–443 |doi=10.1016/0011-7471(62)90094-3 |bibcode=1962DSRA....9..423F |issn=0011-7471}}</ref>

The same telluric displacements that created the Peru-Chile Trench make the country prone to earthquakes. During the twentieth century, Chile has been struck by twenty-eight major earthquakes, all with a force greater than 6.9 on the [[Richter magnitude scale|Richter scale]]. The strongest of these occurred in 2010 (registering an estimated 8.8 on the Richter scale) and in Valdivia 1960 (reaching 9.5). [[Great Chilean earthquake|This latter earthquake]] occurred on May 22, the day after another major quake measuring 7.25 on the Richter scale, and covered an extensive section of south-central Chile. It caused a [[tsunami]] that destroyed several fishing villages in the south and raised or lowered sections of the coast as much as two meters. The convergence between the Earth's surface plates has also generated the Andes, a geologically young mountain range that in Chilean territory alone, includes about 620 volcanoes, many of which are active. 

Approximately 80 percent of Chile's terrain consists of mountainous formations. The majority of the Chilean population resides in close proximity to these mountain ranges. Additionally, there are other, less imposing mountain ranges present. These non-Andean mountains, though they can manifest in various locations, typically constitute parts of transverse and coastal ranges. The transverse ranges, notably found in the near north and far north natural regions, extend in diverse configurations from the Andes to the ocean, shaping valleys oriented in an east-west direction. On the other hand, the coastal ranges are predominantly visible in the central region of the country, contributing to the formation of the [[Chilean Central Valley|Central Valley]] (''Valle Central'') between these ranges and the Andes. In the southernmost reaches, the Central Valley merges with the waters of the ocean. Here, the elevated sections of the coastal range facing the Andes transform into a multitude of islands, creating a complex network of channels and fjords that have posed navigational challenges to seafarers.

Much of Chile's coastline is rugged. The [[Humboldt Current]], which originates northwest of the [[Antarctic Peninsula]] (which juts into the [[Bellingshausen Sea]]) and runs the full length of the Chilean coast, makes the water cold. During the summer months, the temperature of the water off Chile's beaches in the central part of the country stays below {{convert|15|C|F}}. A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 564&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of tidal flats in Chile, making it the 44th-ranked country in the world in terms of tidal flat area.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=N.J. |last2=Phinn |first2=S.R. |last3=DeWitt |first3=M. |last4=Ferrari |first4=R. |last5=Johnston |first5=R. |last6=Lyons |first6=M.B. |last7=Clinton |first7=N. |last8=Thau |first8=D. |last9=Fuller |first9=R.A. |title=The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats |journal=Nature |date=2019 |volume=565 |issue=7738 |pages=222–225 |doi=10.1038/s41586-018-0805-8 |pmid=30568300 |s2cid=56481043 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0805-8}}</ref>

Chilean territory extends as far west as [[Polynesia]]. The best known of Chile's Pacific Islands is [[Easter Island]] (Isla de Pascua, also known by its Polynesian name of Rapa Nui), with a population of 2,800 people. Located {{convert|3600|km|0|abbr=on}} west of Chile's mainland port of [[Caldera, Chile|Caldera]], just below the [[Tropic of Capricorn]], Easter Island provides Chile a gateway to the Pacific. It is noted for its 867 monoliths ([[moai]]s), which are huge (up to twenty meters high) and mysterious, expressionless faces sculpted of volcanic stone. The [[Juan Fernández Islands]], located {{convert|587|km|0|abbr=on}} west of [[Valparaíso]], are the locale of a small fishing settlement. They are famous for their lobster. One of the islands, [[Robinson Crusoe Island]], is where [[Alexander Selkirk]], the inspiration for [[Daniel Defoe]]'s novel, was marooned for about four years.