Showing posts with label Chile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chile. Show all posts

Thursday 24 December 2015

Licancabur, A Highly Symmetrical Stratovolcano Between Chile and Bolivia



Well, Licancabur is a highly symmetrical stratovolcano on the southernmost part of the border between Chile and Bolivia. But actually it is situated just southwest of Laguna Verde in Bolivia. The volcano takes over the landscape of the Salar de Atacama area. The lower 2/3 of the northeastern slope of the volcano belong to Bolivia, 5,400 meters from the foot at 4,360 meters, though the rest and biggest part, including the higher third of the northeastern slope, the crater and summit, belong to Chile.
The summit and the crater are located completely in Chile, slightly over one kilometer to the southwest of the international borders. It is about 400 meters wide and covers Licancabur Lake, which is 70 meters by 90 meters Crater Lake almost ice-covered round the year. This is one of the highest lakes in the world, and despite air temperatures which can drop to -30 °C, it harbors planktonic fauna. The Lake provides an extremely harsh environment, but still there is life (extremophiles, planktonic fauna).

Moreover, Licancabur's most recent volcanic activity formed extensive lava flows which spread six kilometer down the northwest and southwest flanks, with older lava flows reaching 15 kilometers and pyroclastic flow deposits as far as 12 kilometers from the peak. Moreover, archaeological evidence at the summit offers evidence of pre-Columbian ascents and proposes the importance of crater lakes in Inca culture. This also supports the absence of major eruptions over the past 500 to 1,000 years. 

It is believed that Incas may have used the mountain to preform sacrifices and ruins can still be found on the top. Though not the most technically challenging climb in the Andes, the sheer altitude and magnificence of this volcano make it a very advisable climb, particularly if you’re trying to acclimate to high altitudes. Make sure, when climbing Licancabur, you’ll be sleeping at approx. 14,500' and climbing more than 19,000'. The best season to climb is Dec till March, which is lit bit more wet season. The high antiplano is "high and dry" and the sun is intense and the nights can be cold. Hece, it is advice to put on lots of sunscreen every day and get ready for temps to cross 20's F for January, colder in their winter.










Thursday 22 October 2015

Flowering Desert: A Climatic Phenomenon in Chilean Atacama Desert

The “flowering desert” also called “desierto florido” is a climatic phenomenon that occurs at the Atacama Desert, in Chile. The magnificent phenomenon comprises of the blossoming of a wide range of flowers in the months of September and November every year. The flowering starts when rainfall is unusually high, a normally this region receives less than 12 mm of rain a year. The flowers blossoming take place when the infrequent level of rainfall reach the seeds and bulbs that have been in a latent or dormant state and roots them to germinate in early spring. Therefore, it is accompanied by the propagation of insects, birds and minor species of lizard. At its height, the phenomenon can be seen from just south of the city of Vallenar to just north of the city of Copiapó throughout the coastal valleys and Chilean Coast Range. The phenomenon is strictly dependent on above-average rainfall, although highly excessive rainfall has been seen to limit blooming. The area proved to be one of the chief sources of Chile’s wealth until World War I. The Atacama Desert is one of the driest and one of the oldest deserts places on Earth.

Climatically, the event is related to the El Niño phenomenon, a band of anomalously warm ocean water temperatures that occasionally develops off the western coast of South America, which can lead to an increase in evaporation and therefore precipitation. Due to gorgeous beauty of flowering desert, the site has been emerge in popular tourist attraction with visitors visiting the climatic phenomenon from various points around the southern Atacama, including Huasco Vallenar, La Serena, Copiapo and Cladera. The flowering desert comprises over two hundred species of flower, most of them endemic to the Atacama region. The different species germinate at different times through the flowering desert period.

Some of the most common species include Garra de león, Pata de guanaco, Añañuca, Schizopetalon tenuifolium. This area is also home to cacti, succulents and other examples of xerophilous plants, as well as animal species including the Tuco-tuco and the Four-Eyed Frog. In recent times, various concerns have been raised by environmental organizations regarding the possibly damaging effects of large numbers of tourists visiting the flowering desert, the illegal trade of native flower species, and the development of motorsport. Chilean Government has established a series of prohibitions and control in response of environmental organizations has suggested that these activities limit the potential for regeneration of the existing species. In addition to informative campaigns to the public, and especially to tourists, in order to limit the damage.













El Tatio, Third Largest Geyser Field in World



Head into the Andes Mountains of northern Chile and you'll find “El Tatio” a geyser field at 4,320 meters above mean sea level. El Tatio is among the highest-elevation geyser fields in the world, and has more than 80 active geysers, making it the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the third largest in the world. El Tatio, name comes from comes from the Quechua word for oven. The geysers erupt to an average height of about 75 centimeters, with the highest eruption observed being around 6 metres. 

This place is a major tourist attraction, and tourists usually arrive at sunrise when each geyser is surmounted by a column of steam that condenses in the cold air. The steam plumes disappear as the air warms up, and possible to bathe in the hot geyser water in a small pool. Though the nearby population center to the El Tatio Geysers is Calama, a beautiful ancient town with a small but developing tourist sector, the vast majority of visitors come on day trips from San Pedro de Atacama.

Moreover, there’s wreckage at the site from an old project for harnessing geothermal power. The exploration of El Tatio is controversial, because this site is a popular tourist attraction, and receives more than 100,000 visitors per year, and is the principal attraction of nearby San Pedro de Atacama; that the geysers are in an indigenous zone and people put value on and show to the world. Well, if you want to see the see this place, then the best time to see the geysers is 06:00, so make sure you wipe the sleep from your eyes if you want experience the breathtaking display. So be careful, and watch your step, because in some places, tourists have fallen through the thin crust into underlying pools of boiling water and suffered severe burns. Dress in layers: it's toe-numbingly cold at sunbreak but you will bake in the van on the way back down. 

The area is also home to a number of hot springs, you’ll find pools with waters at comfortable temperatures or if you’re willing to brave undressing in the cold high-altitude air. The ground takes a while to reach 16ºC after the chill of the night has passed, but the experience is worth the wait. Source: Charismaticplanet.com














Tuesday 26 May 2015

Planet Patagonia 4K Time Lapse

Shot in southern Chile and Argentina. Time lapse photography and editing by Dmitry Sergeev. Shooting in Patagonia requires a very sturdy tripod and of course the head as the wind is always present especially high in the mountains. The original 10 minute "Planet Patagonia" 4K time lapse film is available in full resolution 2160p at: loungev.com/planet-patagonia-timelapse-4k-film/

Planet Patagonia 4K Time Lapse from HD Nature Video by LoungeV on Vimeo.

Thursday 21 May 2015

Chile’s World's Largest Swimming Pool is an Engineering Miracle

Chile has some unique attractions to cater the tourists all over the world; by presenting the world’s largest swimming pool attracts large crowds to pay a visit to the San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, on Chile’s southern coast. The pool length is about is 3,323 feet long, covering an area of 20 acres containing some 250 million liters of seawater, with a maximum depth of 11.5 feet. The water is pumped from the Pacific Ocean, filtered, and treated. The world’s largest swimming pool took five years to build at a lavish cost of £ 1 billion and an annual maintenance bill for about USD 4 million.

It was opened for public in December 2006, and their water is crystal clear even you can see the bottom of its depth. The gigantic pool is controlled by computer suction device and filtration system to keep fresh seawater in permanent circulation. The pool water is drawing in from the ocean at one end and pumping it out at the other end. Moreover, the sun warms the water that has a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, 9 degrees warmer than the ocean side. Chile biochemist “Fernando Fischmann” is the man who designed this massive pond. He says, we can build an impressive artificial paradise even in inhospitable areas. It is really true that the pool is like heaven in a dry area.

The swimming length of this pool is the world's largest outdoor pool would mean stroke after stroke for over three fifths of a mile and that's 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. If you’re water lover and distance swimmer, then this is dream come true, as the chill water not overly chlorinated. Indeed this is a engineering miracle--you can't really wrap your head around how HUGE the pool is--it is really more of a lake would give the pool itself 5 stars. If you don't like cold water and can’t swim you might not enjoy it as much as the others did. Source: Charismatic Planet

Friday 6 February 2015

Discover Chile in 90 seconds

If you're traveler and wanted to go Chile, then take a look of this video. You'll realize how beautiful Chile is. The scenic nature really inspires to go out and take some breath in real nature. From the driest desert in the world to the glaciers of Patagonia, Chile offers a range of rich natural landscapes. In this video platform to you can set the challenge of synthesizing all the beauty of the country in just a minute and a half. Travel through Chile and discover a whole world!


Descubre Chile en 90 segundos | Voyhoy from Voyhoy on Vimeo.

Sunday 19 October 2014

Ventisquero Colgante (Hanging Glacier) of Chile



Ventisquero Colgante, or the Hanging Glacier, is found in the Queulat National Park, in Chile. It is the biggest attraction of Queulat National Park. This is hanging above a ravine of bare rock; and it dominates a valley formed by mountains covered in valdivian temperate rainforest, and feeds a river at the bottom of the valley as it melts. The water melting from the glacier makes two towering waterfalls which drops around 600 meters on top of a massive slab of angled bedrock, and then flows beneath what appears to be a perpetual avalanche cone. When the stream leaves this underground section, it creates a beautiful small lake called “Laguna Témpanos” and then after around six kilometers it enters the Canal de Puyuhuapi. Well, the falls are noticeable and flowing all-round the year but due to the ablation of avalanches at the base of the falls, as much as half of the falls can be covered by snow and ice during the late spring and early summer.

The lovely Ventisquero Colgante falls was discovered in 1875, when an exploration led by Captain Enrique Simpson. The Captain Enrique reported that the snow of the glacier was fair 100 meters from the bank of Canal de Puyuhuapi, where Captain used to moor his boat. It is not completely clear whether he saw the waterfall or this waterfall was visible at all. In all probability, it wasn’t. The waterfall was formed much later, as the glacier retreated and the cliff wall became visible. If Captain Enrique observation is factual, then the glacier has retreated 8 kilometers during the last 140 years.