Chile stretches over 4,630 kilometres (2,880 mi) north to south, between the Andes Mountains on the East side and the Pacific Ocean on the West side. It is not only a long but also a narrow country with only 180 kilometres East to West. Chile is therefore the longest and narrowest country in the world !
As a result, Chile encompasses a remarkable variety of landscapes. At North, the Atacama Desert is known as the dryest aea in the Earth, at South, Patagonia is rainy and windy and in the center, the valleys of Santiago have a mediterranean climate.
So Chile concentrates most of the Earth climates on its territory, depending of latitudes. Unlike in Europe or North America, the Chilean winter is in July and August and summer occurs in January and February.
In the Atacama Desert, sun is always shynning and rains are almost nonexistant. But during the winter nights, temperatures can go under 0°C and the differences with daily temperatures are always huge.
The climate of the Chilean coast is influenced by a decisive factor : the Humboldt current which is a cold current that comes from Antarctic. It reduces the evaporation of the Ocean waters and is mostly responsible of the desertification of the Chilean coast.
The area of Santiago gets a mediterranean climate which is pleasant all year long with higher temperatures from November to March.
In Patagonia, wind and rain are wonted including in summer but the best season to travel there is from September to March.
During the Austral winter (from July to September), it is possible to sky in the Lakes District and in the surroundings of Santiago.
As for Easter Island, it receives a hot climate all year long thanks to important trade winds.
