Photos: The High Desert of the Atacama

Sunrise at the highest altitude geyser field in the world is worth the very early departure to reach this location high in the Andes of northern Chile.  The geysers erupt only in the morning for a few hours, and the steam hitting the below-freezing air adds drama to the scene.
Although the Atacama is the driest desert on earth, there are some lakes in this rather desolate terrain. The evaporation of the water in this dry climate leaves a crusty ring of salts and minerals around the shore of many of the lakes, which adds a nice accent to photos like this.
This is a close photo of one of the bubbling geysers.  It is possible to walk right up to, and step over, some of the geothermal activity.
This geyser has bubbled up long enough in the same place to leave a cone of mineral deposits.A few flamingoes examine the shallow water for brine shrimp or other morsels.  It is remarkable to find water fowl living in the middle of a desert.

Photos: The Lands of Atacama

This is a a very early morning scene of a high altitude lake in the Andes.  Water in the Atacama is scarce, as it is the driest desert on earth.  Although we were there in the late Spring/early summer of the end of November, and the daytime sun was intense, it was below freezing up in the mountains. and there was a crust of ice on the surface of the water in the places where the water was still.
This photo shows the setting of the Explora Lodge where we stayed in the town of San Pedro de Atacama.  It is in the broad plains below the high altitude moonscape of volcanos and rocky mountains.  I took this photo from the roof top observation deck above the lobby building.
This is a close photo the water and calcified deposits on the edge of the highest altitude geyser field in the world.  There are places where you can walk right up to the gurgling and spraying steam.  One of the geyser fields is open for people to walk where ever they want, unlike geyser fields with marked trails and guard rails. The lakes in the Atacama have the equivalent of a bathtub ring around them.  The lakes are high in mineral content and the water evaporates, leaving crusty salt deposits around their edges, which accents the shore in the photo.

The Town of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

San Pedro de Atacama is the main town that is a base for exploration of the Atacama Desert. There are lodges and stores that sell hiking and backpacking supplies. It is a small town, with mud and adobe buildings and walls. Horses are a common mode of transportation.This charming little girl peaked out of her doorway to take a look at Dave and me taking photographs of the small town. Wells and irrigation are needed for any cultivation, as the area gets almost no rain. The hot, dry conditions support a small variety of corn in contrast the the large corn grown in the American Midwest that we are used to seeing in supermarkets.Shade is at a premium. This is a small cafe across from the main square and church in town. The store on the left is an Internet cafe, as internet and cell phone service is limited to the town in this region. If everything were new and freshly painted, the world would be a dull place for photographers.

The Mountains of Atacama, Chile

The Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth, but there are pockets of water. This is an ice-crusted lake and marsh at sunrise high in the Andes. It was very cold, even though this photo was taken last November, during the South American spring.
This is a photo of the Explora Lodge where we stayed in San Pedro de Atacama. I took this photo from a patio on the roof of the lodge, looking over the wing of rooms where we stayed, to the volcanic mountains in the distance. The sun is intense. The lodge has the largest private telecope in Chile and offers night astronomy sessions in the telescope.There are salt flats in the wetlands of the Atacama, with a crusty surface from the minerals left behind by the evaporated water. There is a wide variety of shapes, textures and colors.We loved the striking, intense colors of the sky, mountains, lake and high desert brush. Coming from Arizona, we are used to the climate. If you expect mountains to have pine forests and grassy meadows, you should go tot he eastern slopes of the Andes, such as the lakes region around Barilochi in Argentina, rather than the Atacama in Chile.At one point we counted 30 volcanic cones visible from a single spot. I can't imagine what this region must have been like when the volcanoes were active, although a few of them are still active today.

The Scenery of Atacama, Chile

The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the driest desert on earth. Some locations there have never received recorded rainfall, and the average rainfall in some regions of the desert is 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) per year. It has lots of volcanoes, as you see in this top photo of what is a very cloudy day in this region.
This is typical of the scenery. The Atacama is so dry because the moisture from the Pacific Ocean does not cross the coastal mountain range, and the tall Andes Mountains block moisture from the Amazon Basin from drifting westward.
San Pedro de Atacama is the main town for the tourist region of the Atacama. It is the location of outfitters who will take hikers and tourists up into the Andes. This is the main church of the town. There is also a small museum. The mummified human remains that had been a major attraction for the museum have been removed out of respect for the indigenous cultures.
Straw is a common roofing material. Many parts of the Atacama did not receive any significant rainfall from 1570 to 1971, so the roofs are needed more for protection from the sun than rain.
The highest altitude geyser field in the world is in the Atacama. In many places visitors can walk right up to bubbling and steaming vents, with pungent sulfuric odors.

The Geysers and Lands of Atacama

This line of steam is part of the highest altitude geyser field on earth, about 16,000 feet (4,876 m.) above sea level in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The geysers are active every morning until about 9:00 a.m., so a very early departure to reach the geysers at sunrise is wise.
The stark colors of the Atacama are amazing. We traveled for hours each day through scenes like this during our visit to this area. The lakes exist high in the mountains and are fed by springs, as there is almost no rain in this area.
Guanaco, a member of the llama family, is the dominant mammal in this area. We were told that they are also a relative of the camel. They kept a watchful eye on us, but did not appear fearful of humans. Their tall necks are helpful to keep a lookout for puma, their predator.
Many of the lakes in the Atacama Desert are ringed with white salt and minerals because of the evaporation in the dry air and intense sun.
That is not a cloud peeking above the ridge line. It is smoke and steam from an active volcano, and the ridge line is the crest of the crater. At one point, we counted 30 volcanos in view from the same spot, although all but a few are dormant.

The Beauty of Atacama, Chile

The Atacama Desert in Chile has the highest altitude geyser field on earth. We went high into the mountains to get there at sunrise, It was November and the morning temperature was -8 C, or about 15 F. The contrast of the steam against cold air, catching the morning light, was a dramatic effect to capture.
The Atacama desert has vast expanses of scrubby brush clinging to life, supporting groups of guanaco, a member of the llama family.
Some of the lakes have salt and mineral deposits lining their shores, like a border to highlight the dividing line between the lake and the shore.
I bought a fisheye lens before our trip to Chile last November. Only a fisheye or stitching photos together could capture the expanse of this vast landscape.
It is remarkable that animals can survive in this harsh desert, which is one of the driest places on earth. This is a rhea, a member of the ostrich family.