Compared to the coastal lowlands and the Intermediate Depression, it is sparsely populated with land use varying from protected areas to grazing and silviculture.

The range begins at Morro de Arica in the north and reaches its highest point, of 3114 m, in Sierra Vicuña Mackenna in the Antofagasta Region.

Between Copiapó and Aconcagua rivers, in the so-called Norte Chico region, the range fuses with the Andes.

South of Chiloé the portions of the range above sea level form the Guaitecas and the Chonos Archipelagos.

From Valparaíso Region to Lanalhue Fault the bedrock is largely made up of the Coastal Batholith of central Chile.