Atacama virtual: English
www.geovirtual2.clMuseo Virtual, Chile
W. Griem, 2006 - 2021
Atacama desert near Llano San Pedro - Piedra Colgada (W. Griem; 2003; CanonA100) Large photo
Information Photo:
Camera Powershot-A100 | Focal length: 5,41mm | Shutter speed: 1:250
F: f/5.6 | Original size: 1280 x 960 | Date: 2003/5/24/16:58
hrs.
Photo: Typical desert landscape with mountains, near Copiapó Quebrada Paipote, Atacama Region (Chile) - W. Griem 2009 - Canon-XSi1929): Large Photo
Information Photo:
Camera Canon XSi | Lens: 17-70mm +pol.| Focal length:23mm | Shutter
speed: 1:160 | ISO100
F: f/4.5 | Original size: 4272 x 2848 | Date:
2009/07/9/9:46hrs.
The absence of water for several years and the high
temperatures with great differences between day and night destroy the
rocks without the presence of water.
As a result, large masses of loose rocks are formed, up to very
extensive plains and large alluvial fans.
The Paipote Quebrada (creek) (among others) with the international road
shows all the morphological phenomena of the desert. This ravine also
serves an important infrastructural function.
In some parts of the desert there are oasis or vegas. The Copiapó and
Huasco rivers form river oases. In addition, there are isolated vegas in
the middle of the desert, but generally located in ravines. Here we can
mention "La Puerta" located in Quebrada Paipote or "La Finca de Chañaral
Alto" among others. In some of these vegas you can still notice the
traces of a historical agriculture. But with the possibility of
transporting vegetables and fruits from southern Chile, most of the
vegas were abandoned.
Information:
The desert is a quite special but fragile natural environment. The
desert ecosystem depends on many factors and needs to be looked after.
For us as human beings the desert is not the "normal" environment, we
must take some precautions and be aware that:
a) water is scarce - always carry a good quantity of water
b) the solar power is extremely high, especially the UV radiation
indexes
c) Wind can be strong and dry
d) There are almost no people - there are places where for decades not a
single person entered
e) Height affects all persons - from approx. 4000m upwards. many feel
bad
f) Nights are characterised by very low temperatures. Even in accessible
areas (4000 meters high) they can reach -20ºC.
g) Sporadic rains can be extremely strong and carry everything away.
Places of interest
Information about Atacama
Atacama
Travel instructions
Behavior in the desert
Specific terms
The Andes mountains (I)
The Andes mountains (II)
Atacama desert (1)
●
Atacama desert (2)
Rain in the desert
Flowering desert (1)
Flowering desert (2)
Flowering desert (3)
Snow in the Atacama desert (1)
Snow in the Atacama desert (2)
Pissis 1875: Desierto Atacama
Las Dunas
de Atacama
Photos of the Atacama desert
Atacama black and white
Road maps of Atacama
Desert & Atacama
Journey to Atacama
Routes of Atacama
Pan-Americana Highway
Distance between ....
Road maps of Atacama
Books of Atacama
Links Atacama
Imágenes 3-dimensionales
Clima en Atacama
Introducción, contenidos
Precipitaciones en Atacama
Cronología de eventos climáticos
Nieve en el desierto
El
desierto florido
Philippi (1856) y el clima
Atacama landscape
The Atacama desert
Flowering desert
Beaches of Atacama
Las Dunas
de Atacama
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