Which tropics cross Chile?
Only the Tropic of Capricorn crosses Chile. This parallel runs through the north of the country, in the Antofagasta region, marking the boundary between the tropical and temperate zones of the Southern Hemisphere.
The Tropic of Capricorn in Chile
The Tropic of Capricorn is the only tropical line that crosses Chilean territory. It passes through the Antofagasta region, in the north of the country, around the city of Calama and the Atacama Desert.
This imaginary line, located at 23°26' south latitude, marks the southern limit of the tropical zone. North of this line, the sun can be at its zenith at least once a year, while south of it begins the southern temperate zone.
A barely terrestrial parallel
The Tropic of Capricorn crosses mainly oceans and passes through only 10 countries in the world: Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, Australia and France (New Caledonia).
Key points
This geographical position partly explains the exceptional climatic diversity of Chile, which extends over more than 4,000 kilometers from north to south, from tropical desert areas to temperate and subantarctic regions.