Chilean Central Valley
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- This article is about the valley beetwen the Chilean Coast Range and the Andes, for the natural region see Central Chile.
[edit] Geography and Climate
The Central Valley (Valle Central de Chile) is the zone beetwen the Chilean Coast Range and the Andean mountains. The Central Valley extends from Santiago to the north to the Ofqui Isthmus in its widest definition, the geological one. Others consider the Bio-Bio river as it southern boundary due to historical reasons (see Arauco War) and others consider Puerto Montt as the souther limit, because futher south most of the valley lies unde the sea level.
Most of the Central valley is a fertile region and the agricultural heartland of Chile. The north part has a Mediterranean climate, with temperatures dropping and precipitations increasing in a regular pattern from north to south. Winters are mild and summers are usually moderately hot and dry.
The annual mean temperatures in Santiago is 57° F (14° C) The temperate action of the ocean prevents temperatures from dropping drastically, and if snow falls in the area, it does not usually stay on the ground for more than a few hours.
In Santiago the annual rainfall is 13 inches and in Valparaíso, outside the valley in the coast at the same latitude, it amounts to 15 inches. Along the Central Valley rainfall increases gradually southward until it reaches 52 inches in Concepción.
[edit] Demography and Economy
Historically, the northern Central valley (Bio-Bio to Santiago) has been the heartland of the country with the highest concentration of population. Its economy is characterized by its diversity and the strongest pillars lie in the use of natural resources, through the copper mining, logging, agriculture and wine producing, and manufacturing sector.
The main cities are: Santiago, Quilpué, Villa Alemana, Quillota, Puente Alto, Melipilla, Rancagua, Curicó, Talca, Linares, Chillán, Los Ángeles, Temuco, Osorno and Puerto Montt
