Chile stretches so far north to south that its climate ranges from desert to glaciers.

The longer version

Latitude controls how much sunlight a place receives, and a country spanning many degrees of latitude covers a wide range of climates. The north sits under dry, sinking air, creating desert conditions. Moving south, rainfall increases as winds bring moist air from the ocean, and forest gradually replaces scrub.

The far south lies close to polar air masses, so temperatures drop and snow accumulates as ice fields and glaciers. A high mountain chain runs the length of the country, adding a second control, namely altitude. Together these produce sharply different environments within one political boundary, from arid northern mining country to sheep farming near the southern ice.

Where this entry sits

These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.