Chile is a genuine land of extremes. In the north lies the Atacama Desert, the most arid place in the world. The central region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with beautiful beaches, the metropolis of Santiago, Andean skiing and an idyllic countryside of vineyards, farms, primeval forests and enchanting lakes. Offshore, the volcanic Easter Island is subtropical. To the south, the fjords and glaciers of Patagonia precede the stormy steppes of Tierra del Fuego and the frozen continent, Antarctica.
