Atacama

Laguna Chaxa lies at ca. 2300m in Salar de Atacama. It is protected as part of Reserva Nacional los Flamencos and as a RAMSAR site. The water in the lagoon has a very high salt content and is the main breeding ground of the endangered Andean flamingo. The photo wais taken in western direction towards Cordillera Domeyko and its highest peak, Cerro Quimal (4278m). Laguna Chaxa liegt auf 2300m Höhe im Salar de Atacama. Sie ist geschützt als Teil der Reserva Nacional los Flamencos und als RAMSAR Feuchtgebiet. Das Wasser der Lagune hat einen sehr hohen Salzgehalt und ist das Hauptbrutgebiet des gefährdeten Andenflamingo. Das Foto zeigt nach Westen zur Cordillera Domeyko mit dem Cerro Quimal (4278m). rsis.ramsar.org/ris/876

Laguna Chaxa is one of the main breeding grounds of the endangered Andean flamingo which is easy to recognize by its yellow legs and black tail tip. Other birds like Andean avocet and Baird's sandpiper can also be watched in the shallow saline lake. See inset photos! rsis.ramsar.org/ris/876 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andean_flamingo Laguna Chaxa íst eines der Hauptbrutgebiete für den Andenflamingo, der leicht an seinen gelben Beinen und der schwarzen Flügelspitze erkennbar ist. Auch andere Vögel wie Anden-Säbelschnäbler und Baird-Strandläufer können in dem flachen Salzsee beobachtet werden (siehe PiPs).

Situated in Salar de Atacama and part of Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos, Laguna Chaxa (ca. 2300m) is an important breeding site for Andean flamingoes

The catholic church of San Pedro de Atacama was built in 1744 and declared a national monument in 1951. It is in Andean style with adobe walls painted white, beams of chañar and algarrobo wood tied with ribbons of llama hide and a roof of cactus wood covered with mud and paja grass.

Branches of Prosopis tamarugo casting shadows on a wall in San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro around noon is too hot even for street dogs!

near San Pedro de Atacama, looking over Salar de Atacama to the Cordillera de los Andes

Ruta 23 climbing Cordillera de la Sal. Taken from the point where the track through Valle de la Muerte meets the road again.

Cordillera de la Sal with Andean chain in the background, seen from the viewpoint on Ruta 23. Cordillera de la Sal is a 125 km long, 2,5 to 10 km wide fold belt that rises up to 300m above the Salar de Atacama. Evolution of the Cordillera de la Sal