Chilean Central Valley

The Chilean Central Valley extends from the border with Peru[A] to Puerto Montt in southern Chile, with a notable interruption at Norte Chico (27°20'–33°00' S).

South of Puerto Montt the valley has a continuation as a series of marine basins up to the isthmus of Ofqui.

Some of Chile's most populous cities lie within the valley including Santiago, Temuco, Rancagua, Talca and Chillán.

[5] South of Loa River the valley continues, flanked by Cordillera Domeyko to east, until it is ends at the latitude of Taltal (25°17' S).

[11][12] The Coast Range and the Andes almost merge in two locations: one between Santiago and Rancagua and another between San Fernando and Rengo.

[14] Conglomerate of Andean provenance cover large swathes of the Central Valley being less common to the west near the Coast Range.

[11] At the latitudes of Temuco the Coast Range is subdued to such degree the Central Valley coalesces with the coastal plains.

Topographic map showing the portion of the Chilean Central Valley known as Pampa del Tamarugal .
Topographic map showing the Chilean Central Valley from 35°50' to 38°30' S.
In this false colour satellite image the southern marine basins can be seen as a sea east of Chiloé Island and as the narrow Moraleda Channel that extends south towards the white Northern Patagonian Ice Field .