l6 CHILI. 



rapidly towards the Pacific, and traversed by numerous rivers 

 which fertilize it. The peculiarity of this territory, apart from 

 the diversity of its climate, which varies from that of the tropics 

 to that of the antarctic regions, is the variety of its geological 

 and topographical structures. 



The first, or northern zone, which includes tlic provinces 

 ■Ol Atacama and Coquimbo, the territories of Antofogasta and 

 Tarapaca, is the most sterile, but prodigiously rich in minerals, 

 especially silver, copper, saltpetre, borax, and gypsum. 



The second zone, which commences at the Aconcagua 

 river, and extends to Bio-Bio, the king of Chilian rivers, may 

 be denominated the agricultural zone. It is formed of a series 

 of extensive valleys of rich soil, yielding abundant crops of 

 cereals. Fossil remains of extinct species of animals are 

 frequently found in this zone. 



The breadth of these valleys vary from 25 to 50 miles, and 

 occupies from 150 to 180 miles from the Andes to the Pacific. 



The third zone, which extends from Bio-Bio to the Tolten 

 river, is still occupied by the valourous Araucanian Indians, 

 who never were conquered by the Spaniards ; but the white 

 race is rapidly encroaching upon these fertile lands, and 

 before long these fierce and independent Indians will have to 

 submit to the Chilian Republic, or to disperse in the Pampas. 

 Actually they number about forty thousand. 



The fourth zone includes the system of lakes, not yet 

 drained by plutonic action, as were those at the north. Of 

 these, the Andina lake, Villa-Rica, the source of the Tolten 

 river, 24 miles in circumference, is the most picturesque, 

 and Lake Llanquihue, thirty miles from the coast, is the 

 largest. It is triangular in form, twenty to thirty miles across. 

 This zone includes all the southern end of Chili, and is the 

 se6lion of the primeval forests. 



The climate of these sections has the same variety as 

 their latitudes. In the deserts of Antofogasta and Atacama 

 it scarcely rains at all ; meanwhile in Chiloe and Valdivia it 

 rains nearly all the year. In general the climate is mild and 

 healthy. 



The winter months are June, July, and August ; the 

 summer months are December, January, and February. In 

 the second zone, where are situated Valparaiso and Santiago, 

 it seldom rains except during the winter months. 



The mean tempeature in that zone is 70° in summer, and * 

 52° in winter, and for the year 61°. 



