The
Chilean Coast Range (
Spanish Cordillera de la Costa) is a mountain range that runs southward along the coast parallel with the
Andean Mountains, from
Morro de Arica to
Taitao Peninsula where it ends at the
Chile Triple Junction. The range has a strong influence on the
climate of Chile and produces a
rain shadow behind. This allows a more exuberant vegetation to grow in the range than in the interior. Compared to the coast and the
Intermediate Depression the coast range is sparsely populated. Land use in the coast range varies from
protected areas to grazing and silviculture. The range is present in all Chilean regions except for
Coquimbo Region and
Magallanes Region. The Chilean Coast Range does not show any sign of volcanic activity at present.
Like the Andes, the coast range becomes overall lower with increasing latitude. The range begins at Morro de Arica in the north and reaches its highest point, of 3114 m, in Sierra Vicuña Mackenna in Antofagasta Region. The range is absent in south of Copiapó River and north of Aconcagua River in the so called Norte Chico. Here the range is fused into one the Andes. At the site of Santiago the range separes from the Andes but come close to it again at Angostura de Paine and San Fernando . From Santiago in the north the range loses height until reaching the Bío-Bío River, beyond of which the Nahuelbuta Range rises. Nahuelbuta Range reaches about 1500 m at its central parts. South of Nahuebuta Range, at the coast of Araucanía Region the coast range is replaced by a flatland area. South of Toltén River the range rises again as the Valdivian Coast Range. This range converts into Cordillera Pelada beyond Bueno River. At the site of Chacao Channel the range is penetrated by the sea, leaving its southern emerged parts as islands and peninsulas. Chiloé Island is the largest of these islands and has two ranges; Piuchén Range from Chacao Channel to Cucao Lake and Pirulil Range in the southern half. South of Chiloé the emerged parts of the range forms Guaitecas Archipelago and Chonos Archipelago. The southern extreme of the range is made of Taitao Peninsula and its sub-peninsula Tres Montes.
The range can be divided in several minor ranges. Some of these ranges are
The range is a combined horst, forearc high and accretionary wedge structure. The range was separed from the Andes during the Tertiary rise of the Andes due to the subsidence of the Intermediate Depression.
