DESIERTO DE ATACAMA
• The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the world's second driest
region (icy Antarctica is first). Although the Tropic of Capricorn
passes through the region, the Atacama desert lies in the rain
shadow of Chile's Coast Range, which squeezes out the moisture
from the atmosphere.
• The desert is completely barren and while most areas only receive
moisture from an occasional fog or a shower every few decades, the
rain gauge at Calama has never recorded any measurable
precipitation. The Atacama is a high (most elevations are over 8000
feet) and cold desert, average temperatures range from 0° to 25°
Celsius (32° to 75° F).
DESIERTO DE ATACAMA
• Chile's leading export of the nineteenth century was
nitrate which came from mines in the Atacama Desert.
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, when
synthetic nitrates began to be produced, the Atacama
Desert became responsible for Chile's current leading
export, copper. Copper is mined in the eastern portion of
the country, lying near the Argentina border.
• Population in the Atacama Desert is severely limited.
Settlements are limited to oases and mining towns.
Water was once shipped to mining towns via mules and
barrels but now arrives via aqueduct.
• Flora and fauna are sparse in this driest of dry regions
that serves to provide its country with valuable mineral
resources.
POR QUÉ ATACAMA ES UN DESIERTO
• Por la subsidencia causada por la corriente fría de
Humbolt, que recorre la costa del Norte de Chile y
Perú. Toda esta zona costera es deficitaria en
precipitaciones
• Porque en le Este los Andes actúan como barrera a
la penetración de los frentes de la Patagonia
• Porque está en el límite de la zona tropical Sur y la
temperatura no favorece la convección
GEISERES DEL TATIO EN ATACAMA
GEISERES DEL TATIO EN ATACAMA
VALLE DE LA LUNA EN ATACAMA ARGENTINA
VALLE DE LA LUNA EN ATACAMA ARGENTINA
VALLE DE LA MUERTE. ATACAMA