Temperatures in the capital of Santiago, as well as in the scenic port of Valparaiso, were well into the 70s under the waning Southern Hemisphere sunshine of early May.

Clearly visible in the image to the right is the light tan shading of Santiago’s metropolitan sprawl, as well as the buildings and urban landscape of Valparaiso.

The population centers stand out from the tapestry of terrain that makes central Chile one of the most pleasant places in the world to live and work.

A few snow-capped peaks of the nearby Andes can be seen to the east of the capital, but the first storms of the winter season had yet to bring the first heavy snowfall to nearby ski resorts.

Santiago has the distinction of being one of a handful of locations where it is possible to go skiing in the morning in nearby mountain resorts and then go swimming or snorkeling in the afternoon at the ocean. The shores of the Valparaiso suburb of Vina del Mar are a popular destination for people trying to briefly escape Santiago's city life.

Some areas of northern and southern California have a similar variety of terrain and recreational opportunities.

Satellite Image: NASA MODIS Rapid Response System