Editing Chile (section)

=== Climate and hydrography ===
[[File:Köppen–Geiger climate types in Chile.png|thumb|Chile map of Köppen climate classification]]
{{main|Climate of Chile}}

The diverse [[climate of Chile]] ranges from the world's driest desert in the north—the [[Atacama Desert]]—through a [[Mediterranean climate]] in the center, [[Tropical rainforest climate|tropical]] in Easter Island,<ref>{{Cite book |last=K |first=Ana María Errázuriz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oXGaJKGMaMgC |title=Manual de geografía de Chile |date=1998 |publisher=Andres Bello |isbn=978-956-13-1523-5 |page=74 |language=es |access-date=21 November 2023 |archive-date=21 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121211655/https://books.google.com/books?id=oXGaJKGMaMgC |url-status=live }}</ref> to an [[oceanic climate]], including [[alpine tundra]] and [[glaciers]] in the east and south.<ref name="BBC-Chile">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1222764.stm |title=Country profile: Chile |work=BBC News |date=16 December 2009 |access-date=31 December 2009 |archive-date=14 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114035710/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1222764.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen system]], Chile within its borders hosts at least eighteen major climatic subtypes.<ref>Santibáñez, F; Uribe, J. 1997. Atlas Agroclimático de Chile. Santiago, Chile. Fondo 
Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico.</ref> There are four seasons in most of the country: summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August), and spring (September to November).

Due to the characteristics of the territory, Chile is crossed by numerous rivers generally short in length and with low flow rates. They commonly extend from the [[Andes Mountains|Andes]] to the Pacific Ocean, flowing from East to West. Because of the [[Atacama desert]], in the Norte Grande there are only short [[endorheic]] character streams, except for the [[Loa River]], the longest in the country 440&nbsp;km.<ref name=hydr>{{cite journal |author1=Niemeyer, Hans |author2=Cereceda, Pilar |year=1983 |title=Hydrography |journal=Geography of Chile |publisher=[[Military Geographic Institute (Chile)|Military Geographic Institute]] |edition=1st |location=Santiago |volume=8 }}</ref> In the high valleys, wetland areas generate [[Chungará Lake]], located at 4500 meters above sea level. It and the [[Lauca River]] are shared with [[Bolivia]], as well as the [[Lluta River]]. In the center-north of the country, the number of rivers that form valleys of agricultural importance increases. Noteworthy are the Elqui with 75&nbsp;km<ref name=hydr/> long, 142&nbsp;km Aconcagua, Maipo with 250&nbsp;km<ref name=hydr/> and its tributary, the Mapocho with 110&nbsp;km, and Maule with 240&nbsp;km. Their waters mainly flow from Andean snowmelt in the summer and winter rains. The major lakes in this area are the artificial lake Rapel, the Colbun Maule lagoon and the lagoon of La Laja.

[[Climate change]] is expected to alter the frequency and severity of various natural hazards in Chile, including wildfires, floods, landslides, droughts and rising sea levels. Key sectors vulnerable to climate change impacts include agriculture, fisheries, agriculture and water security.<ref>{{Cite web |last=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |title=Chile |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/chile/vulnerability#:~:text=Chile%20is%20highly%20exposed%20and,those%20disasters%20on%20human%20populations. |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}</ref>