image

Up Into the Andes

---

March 11th 2014
Today was a daylong tour up into the Andes to see the high plains salt lagoons. There is a series of them and some have the right conditions for flamingoes to thrive. (See photo.) We didn't see many other animals, partly because there are not many who live at these altitudes, but one species that does is the vicuña. It is a relative of the llama, but runs wild in herds in the Andes and we saw ... read more

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

---

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