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L'altitudine diminuisce, il che è normale, infatti arriviamo.

L'altitudine diminuisce, il che è normale, infatti arriviamo.
The altitude is decreasing, which is normal, in fact we are arriving.
From Lesson 290:Explanatory discourse markers (cioè, infatti, ossia)·Italian

Questions & Answers about L'altitudine diminuisce, il che è normale, infatti arriviamo.

How does infatti function in this sentence?
In this context, infatti acts as a confirmatory discourse marker. It connects the two ideas by showing that our arrival confirms why the altitude is decreasing. While it translates to "in fact," it is used specifically to validate or provide evidence for the statement that just came before it.
Could I use cioè or ossia instead of infatti here?
No, because they serve different purposes. Cioè and ossia mean "that is to say" or "meaning," and are used to explain or clarify a previous point. Infatti means "in fact" or "indeed" and is used to confirm or back up a statement. Here, the arrival is the proof that the altitude dropping is normal.
Why is it il che and not just che?
We use il che (meaning "which") when referring back to an entire previous clause or situation, rather than a specific noun. Here, il che refers to the whole fact that the altitude is decreasing, not just to the word l'altitudine.
Why use the simple present tense arriviamo for "we are arriving"?
In Italian, the simple present tense is frequently used to express actions that are happening right now or in the immediate future. While you could use the present continuous (stiamo arrivando), simply saying arriviamo is very natural and common for "we are arriving".

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