Chile-Peru Maritime Dispute and Chilean Geography
Chile-Peru Maritime Boundary Conflict
Peru's position is that Chile and Peru would never have signed a specific treaty of maritime boundaries. This issue remained overlooked until 2001, when Peru asserted that fishing limits were established informally among workers, thus initiating the conflict.
Chilean Territory Statistics
- South American Continental Chile: 756,000 km²
- Oceanic Chile: 320 km²
- Antarctic Territory: 1,250,000 km²
Chile cannot claim sovereignty over the Antarctic continent, as this region is governed by an agreement involving 12 countries.
Territorial Acquisitions and Cessions
- Chile won territories: Antofagasta (from Bolivia), Tarapacá and Arica (from Peru).
- Chile ceded territory to Argentina: Patagonia.
Definition of Sovereignty
Sovereignty: The authority held by an authoritarian government or public authorities over a specific land or territory.
Chile's Geographic Limitations
Chile is bordered by:
- Northwest: Pacific Ocean
- East: Bolivia and Argentina
- South: The Antarctic continent
Chilean Coastline Features
Coastal Partner Section
This section extends from the line of harmony to Chacao for approximately 2,500 Km. It is somewhat uneven, featuring high and low islands.
Dismembered Coast Section
Extending from Chacao to the Drake Sea (approximately 2,300 km), this area has numerous bays, gulfs, fjords, islands, and archipelagos.
Antarctic Coast Section
Measuring approximately 3,500 km, it is divided into three parts:
- The subantarctic islands
- Archipelagos
- The Antarctic Peninsula (Antarctica or O'Higgins Land)
Types of Islands
Prefixed Islands
Located near the coast and considered part of the continental shelf. The largest are inhabited and exploited.
Patagonian Islands
Adjacent to Chiloé, these large islands were formed by erosion.
Oceanic Islands
These are situated hundreds of thousands of kilometers from the mainland. All are under the jurisdiction of the V Region of Valparaíso.
Oceanographic Phenomena Affecting Chile
The Humboldt Current
This is a cold current originating near Mocha Island (38° Latitude South) and running north for about 100 nautical miles. The water is rich in oxygen and salinity, appearing dark green due to high plankton concentration. It effectively keeps the temperature low.
El Niño Phenomenon
This is an alteration of the Humboldt Current, characterized by occasional, irregular warming. It causes major changes in the marine environment and climate, leading to a massive reduction in native species and a slight increase in warm-water species.
La Niña (The Inverse Child)
La Niña is the inverse of El Niño; it causes excessive cooling of sea temperatures. These lower temperatures favor drought conditions in northern and central Chile.
Red Tide
This involves an increase in dinoflagellates, tiny organisms that form part of the plankton. They produce poisonous toxins that concentrate in shellfish, causing mortality in humans.