Chilean Geography and Global Environmental Concepts
Chilean Ocean and Insular Chile
Chilean Ocean: Includes the Polynesian islands, such as Easter Island (3700 km west of the port of Caldera) and Isla Sala y Gómez (located 390 km northeast of Easter Island).
Insular Chile: Encompasses the aforementioned islands of Oceania and those belonging to the Chilean sea space, such as the Juan Fernández Archipelago, San Félix Islands, and San Ambrosio Island.
Chilean Sea: Includes the concept of the Territorial Sea, which extends 12 nautical miles from the shore, and the Exclusive Economic Zone, also known as the Patrimonial Sea, extending 200 nautical miles from the shore.
Planet Earth and Geographical Concepts
Planet Earth: Characterized by four movements:
- Rotation: Spinning around its own axis.
- Convection: Orbiting around the sun, creating the seasons.
- Nutation: The tilting of Earth’s axis.
- Worldwide Movement: The movement of celestial bodies.
Solstice: The point where the sun is perpendicular to the south or north (Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn).
Equinox: Occurs over the Equator.
Territory: A complex system of multiple interacting elements.
System: A set of elements that interact.
Economic System: A set of rules governing economic activity.
Planned Social System: A socialist economic system.
Isodapana: A line connecting points of equal transport costs. The best location has the lowest transport cost.
Functional Area: An area that develops a specific activity.
Homogeneous Space: An area not designed for a particular activity, with more or less similar characteristics.
Demographic Structure: Characterization of the population according to the presence or absence of certain characteristics.
Environmental Impact: Modification produced by any human activity; when significant, it becomes an important environmental impact.
Politics: The art of government.
Economic Policy: How the economy is governed and the territory is ordered.
American Chile Environments
Ecosystem: A set of functional relationships between natural inanimate and living elements in a certain portion of the land surface.
Note:
- LS: Latitude
- AC: Andean Cordillera
- CC: Coastal Range
- ID: Intermediate Depression
- CP: Coastal Plains
- T°: Temperature
- PP: Precipitation
- N: North
- S: South
Arid Environment
Extends from the northern limit to 27° LS. Characterized by aridity, countercyclical influence, high solar radiation, and the influence of summer rainfall.
Coastal Desert Region
Extends along the coastline from Concord to the Copiapó River. Features a tropical desert or coastal desert climate. Oceanic influence on the windward side of the coastal *camanchaca* (1000 to 1500 m) enters the valleys, resulting in the “Pampita.” This moisture encourages the existence of brown-red coastal soils (aridosols). Limited herbaceous vegetation cover and low wildlife (birds – guano). Settlements are located along the coastline. Land cover is affected by human disturbance (fodder, firewood).
Absolute or Hyper-Arid Tropical Desert
Located east of the CC to the foot of the AC. Aridity is caused by orographic confinement. Features red soils (entisols) that are poor and almost skeletal, with limited organic substrate (almost no plants, except for some highly adapted species). Characterized by *arheic* watersheds with groundwater. Wildlife consists of insects associated with shrubs.
Xeric Valleys and Oasis
Features water courses in streams and rivers, as well as oases (Pica, Mantilla) and platforms. Vegetation develops thanks to fertile soil rich in humus, salts, water, and solar radiation. Crops include bananas, olives, figs, citrus fruits, wheat, corn, barley, alfalfa, cotton, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, and pumpkins.