Chile is a long, narrow country on the western edge of South America, stretching over 4,200 kilometers from north to south, but averaging only 177 kilometers in width. Its capital is Santiago. To its east lie the Andes Mountains, and to its west is the Pacific Ocean. Because of its extreme length, Chile encompasses a highly diverse range of climates. In the north, it contains the Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar place on Earth. The central region has a Mediterranean climate, while the south is a rugged landscape of alpine tundras, glaciers, and fjords. Chile is also a highly seismic country, located on the Nazca and South American plate boundary.