In the desert

Sand and salt in San Pedro

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October 5th 2008
From La Paz we crossed into Chile in the far north at Arica and got a bus south to San Pedro de Atacama, in the Atacama desert. The Atacama is the driest desert in the world, and home to some incredible scenery. The desert is absolutely freezing at night due to the altitude and the clear skies which make it one of the best places in the world for astronomy. Although neither of us know any c ... read more

South America » Chile » Antofagasta Region » San Pedro de Atacama

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Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its ind... ... read more