As the proportionally longest and narrowest country in the world – stretching over 33 degrees in latitude – or 4,200km – from north to south, Chile has its fair share of different climate zones.
In the far south, including the island of Tierra del Fuego, shared with neighbouring Argentina, there is a strongly oceanic climate, with high rainfall – as much as 4,000mm (157 inches) a year – and prevailing westerly winds. Yet the main city, Punta Arenas, lies in the rain-shadow to the west, and so receives just 410mm (16 inches) of precipitation a year.
