Fish of Chile

The Humboldt Current carries cold, nutrient-laden water up the entire coast. That upwelling sustains one of the most productive zones on earth, where water far colder than the latitude would suggest holds immense concentrations of life.

The country’s geography compresses everything. Between the Andes and the ocean the distance rarely exceeds two hundred kilometres, so the rivers are short, fast and cold, fed by snowmelt and glaciers. Many drop from mountain to sea within a few dozen kilometres.

Southern Patagonia built an international reputation around its salmonid rivers and lakes, introduced more than a century ago and thoroughly established since. Seasons there run opposite to the northern hemisphere.