The Sand Beach Ecosystem of Chile

Abstract

The Chilean coast extends for about 4,200 km. South of Chiloé Island the coast (42–56°S) is characterized by archipelagos, fjords, channels, and islands, owing to the sinking of the Chilean longitudinal Central Valley. Exposed sandy beaches of different morphodynamic types alternate with intertidal sand flats at the mouth of rivers in south-central Chile between 38°S and 42°S and with rocky peninsulas in the extreme north (19–30°S; Fig. 15.1). Seasonal cycles of beach sand erosion and accretion are typical. During erosion, beaches have concave profiles with coarser grained sand than during accretion periods, when profiles are convex.