Geographically, the Patagonian Plateau is defined by its position relative to the Andes. It is a vast, windswept region that descends in a series of steps from the mountain foothills to the Atlantic coast. Because it sits on one side of a range rather than being “sandwiched” between two, it is classified as a piedmont plateau. In contrast, the Bolivian Plateau (Altiplano) is nestled deep within the high Andes peaks and the Tibetan Plateau is locked between the Himalayas and Kunlun. Patagonia’s geography is heavily influenced by the rain shadow cast by the Andes, making it a cold, arid desert.