del Fuego (q.v.) belongs to
Chile. About 63 m. S.W. of Cape Horn, in lat. 56 deg. 25' S., is the Diego
Ramirez group of small, rocky islands, the most southern possession of
the republic. Its westernmost possessions are Sala-y-Gomez and Easter
islands, the former in about 27 deg. S., 105 deg. W., and the latter, the
easternmost inhabited Polynesian island, in 27 deg. 6' S., 109 deg. 17' W.
Much nearer the Chilean coast (396 m.), lying between the 33rd and
34th parallels, are the three islands of the Juan Fernandez group, and
rising apparently from the same submerged plateau about 500 m. farther
north of the latter are the rocky islets of San Ambrosio and San
Felix, all belonging to Chile. North of Chiloe there are few islands
in close proximity to the coast. The more important of these are La
Mocha, off the southern coast of Arauco, in lat. 38 deg. 20' S., which is
8 m. long and rises to an elevation of 1240 ft. above the sea; Santa
Maria, 30 m. south-west of Concepcion, which partially encloses the
Bay of Arauco and is well cultivated; and Quiriquina, lying off the
port of Talcahuano in the entrance to Concepcion bay. There are a few
barren islands on the desert coast, the largest of which are between
Coquimbo and Caldera. Since the removal of their guano deposits they
have become practically worthless, except where they serve to shelter
anchorages.

Harbours.

The coast of northern and central Chile is singularly deficient in
good harbours. Those of the desert region are only slight indentations
in a remarkably uniform coast-line, sheltered on one side by a point
of land, or small island. The landings are generally dangerous because
of the surf, and the anchorages are unsafe from storms on the
unprotected side. Among the most frequented of these are Valparaiso,
Coquimbo, Caldera, Iquique and Arica. There are some small harbours
for coasting vessels of light draught along the coast of central
Chile, usually at the partially obstructed mouths of the larger
rivers, as San Antonio near the mouth of the Maipo, Constitucion at
the mouth of the Maule, and Llico on the outlet of Lake Vichuquen, but
there is no harbour of importance until Conception (or Talcahuano) Bay
is reached. There are three harbours on this bay, El Tome, Penco and
Talcahuano (q.v.), the last being the largest and best-protected port
on the inhabited part of the Chilean coast. I