Chile is a colorful and exciting country located along the western coast of South America. It is made up of 15 different regions, each with its own special geography, culture, and capital city. Let’s take a fun journey through these regions and learn about their capitals and provinces!
In the north of Chile, you’ll find the Tarapacá region. It borders Bolivia to the east, and its capital city is Iquique, which is located on the west coast. This region has two provinces: Tamarugal and Iquique.
Antofagasta is another northern region, and its capital shares the same name. This region is divided into three provinces: Antofagasta, El Loa, and Tocopilla.
Atacama is located to the east of the Andes Mountains and borders Argentina. The capital is Copiapó, and it is surrounded by three provinces: Chañaral, Copiapó, and Huasco.
Coquimbo is known as Chile’s narrowest region, with La Serena as its capital. It consists of three provinces: Choapa, Elqui, and Limarí.
Valparaíso shares its name with its capital and is located in central Chile. This region is made up of eight provinces: Isla de Pascua, Los Andes, Marga Marga, Petorca, Quillota, San Antonio, San Felipe de Aconcagua, and Valparaíso.
In the central part of Chile, you’ll find the O’Higgins region, with Rancagua as its capital. The region includes three provinces: Cachapoal, Colchagua, and Cardenal Caro.
Maule is famous for its rich farmland, and its capital is Talca. It has four provinces: Cauquenes, Curicó, Linares, and Talca.
The Bío Bío region has Concepción as its capital and is home to four provinces: Arauco, Bío Bío, Concepción, and Ñuble.
Araucanía is located in southern Chile, with Temuco as its capital. The region is divided into two provinces: Cautín and Malleco.
Los Lagos is another southern region, with Puerto Montt as its capital. It consists of four provinces: Llanquihue, Osorno, Chiloé, and Palena.
Aysén is the least populated region in Chile, with Coyhaique as its capital. It includes four provinces: Aysén, Cochrane, Coyhaique, and Chile Chico.
Magallanes is located in the far south, with Punta Arenas as its capital. The region comprises four provinces: Antártica Chilena, Tierra del Fuego, Última Esperanza, and Magallanes.
The Santiago Metropolitan Region is home to the capital city, Santiago de Chile. This region includes six provinces: Santiago, Cordillera, Maipo, Talagante, Melipilla, and Chacabuco.
Los Ríos is another southern region, with Valdivia as its capital. It consists of two provinces: Valdivia and El Ranco.
Arica y Parinacota is located in the northernmost part of Chile, with Arica as its capital. The region includes two provinces: Arica and Parinacota.
Chile’s diverse regions offer a rich mix of landscapes, cultures, and histories. From the dry deserts in the north to the lush forests in the south, each region adds to the unique identity of this amazing country. Whether you’re exploring the Andes mountains or the coastal cities, Chile is a land full of exciting discoveries!
Map Your Own Region: Create a map of your own imaginary region. Think about what kind of geography it might have—mountains, rivers, forests, or deserts. Decide on a capital city and name a few provinces. Draw your map on a piece of paper and use colors to show different features. Share your map with the class and explain why you chose those features for your region.
Region Scavenger Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood or local park. Look for things that remind you of the different regions of Chile. For example, a sandy area might remind you of the Atacama Desert, or a river could represent the Los Ríos Region. Take pictures or draw what you find and write a short description of how it relates to a specific region in Chile.
Math in Geography: Let’s use some math to understand the size of Chile’s regions. If the total area of Chile is approximately $756,096$ square kilometers, and the Atacama Region covers about $75,176$ square kilometers, what fraction of Chile’s total area does the Atacama Region occupy? Express your answer as a fraction and a percentage. Discuss with your classmates how this helps us understand the size of different regions compared to the whole country.
