Santiago is the capital and the largest city in Chile. The Santiago Metropolitan Region, made up of Santiago and surrounding cities, has a population of 7 million that makes up over 40% of Chile's total population. The region also makes up 45% of the nations GDP. Santiago is the political and financial center of Chile. Mining in Chile is very important, as Chile is the top producer of copper in the world along with a few other natural resources. A strong economy and low government debt are large attractions for migrants.

The city sits in a bowl-shaped valley named the Santiago Basin. The Andes mountain chain border the East side, and the Chilean Coastal Range borders the West. The North and South sides of the city are also bordered by ranges of the Andes, making the bowl-like valley for the metropolitan area. Two tectonic plates meet at the San Ramon Fault on the east side, causing a high frequency of earthquakes.

The climate is classified as semi-arid, having warm, dry summers from October-March, reaching up to 95°F. Winters, lasting from April-September, are cool and humid, with highs up to 57°F and lows close to freezing.