Caption for S.  America: Climate Zone Map

 The climate changes along the Pacific Coast of South America are almost a mirror of those along the West Coast of North America.  Both have marine-moderated west coasts in higher latitudes, but nearer to the equator, it becomes a Mediterranean climate.  Within the tropics, both have arid west coasts.
 

 The tropical Andes do not cast a rain shadow, as one might expect of such a high mountain range.  Precipitation is actually more abundant on the leeward slope of the mountains.  However, south of the thirtieth latitude, the Andes do cast a rain shadow across Argentina, even though the mountains here have a much lower mean elevation.