Environment and Location

The Chonos occupied the islands of Western Patagonia from latitude 43°–48° South. This region includes the Chiloé and “Chono” archipelagos up to the Taitao Peninsula and Penas Gulf. These archipelagos were formed from the peaks of the submerged Coastal Mountain Range and are a veritable labyrinth of islands, canals and fiords. The 1,047 islands are covered in dense rainforest that makes travel on land difficult, and there are few beaches for landing watercraft. The zone is characterized by consistently high rainfall of more than 2000 mm per year and average temperatures of 7°–9º C (45-48°F).