Norte Chico, Chile

The Norte Chico (Small North, Near North) is one of the five natural regions on which CORFO divided continental Chile in 1950. Its northern border is formed by the limit with the Far North, on west lies the Pacific Ocean, by the east the  Andes mountains and Argentina, and by the south the Zona Central natural region. Although from a strictly geographic point of view, this natural region corresponds to the Chilean territory comprised between the rivers Copiapó and Aconcagua, traditionally Norte Chico refers to the zone comprising the regions of Atacama and Coquimbo. This natural region was home to the Diaguita people.