<P> The Far North is the area between the northern boundary of the country and the parallel 26 ° S, covering the first three regions . It is characterized by the presence of the Atacama desert, the most arid in the world . The desert is fragmented by streams that originate in the area known as the pampas Tamarugal . The Andes, split in two and whose eastern arm runs Bolivia, has a high altitude and volcanic activity, which has allowed the formation of the Andean altiplano and salt structures as the Salar de Atacama, due to the gradual accumulation of sediments over time . </P> <P> To the south is the Norte Chico, extending to the Aconcagua river . Los Andes begin to decrease its altitude to the south and closer to the coast, reaching 90 km away at the height of Illapel, the narrowest part of the Chilean territory . The two mountain ranges intersect, virtually eliminating the intermediate depression . The existence of rivers flowing through the territory allows the formation of transverse valleys, where agriculture has developed strongly in recent times, while the coastal plains begin to expand . </P> <P> The Central area is the most populated region of the country . The coastal plains are wide and allow the establishment of cities and ports along the Pacific . The Andes maintains altitudes above 6000m but descend slowly starts approaching the 4000 meters on average . The intermediate depression reappears becoming a fertile valley that allows agricultural development and human settlement, due to sediment accumulation . To the south, the Cordillera de la Costa reappears in the range of Nahuelbuta while glacial sediments originate a series of lakes in the area of La Frontera . </P> <P> Patagonia extends from within Reloncavi, at the height of parallel 41 ° S, to the south . During the last glaciation, this area was covered by ice that strongly eroded Chilean relief structures . As a result, the intermediate depression sinks in the sea, while the coastal mountains rise to a series of archipelagos, such as Chiloé and the Chonos, disappearing in Taitao peninsula, in the parallel 47 ° S . The Andes mountain range loses height and erosion caused by the action of glaciers has caused fjords . </P>

Chile is world wide famous for which of the following minerals