Manel Paret EspadalerManel Paret Espadaler

The Atacama desert is in The Atacama desert is in Chile, South America in strep Chile, South America in strep of land on the Pacific Ocean, of land on the Pacific Ocean, in the west of the Andes in the west of the Andes mountains. The Atacama mountains. The Atacama ocupes 181.300 square ocupes 181.300 square quilometers.quilometers.

It’s composed mostly of salt It’s composed mostly of salt basins (salares), sand and basins (salares), sand and lava flows.lava flows.

It is the secont-dries desert in It is the secont-dries desert in the world.the world.

In the vicinty of the Salar the In the vicinty of the Salar the Atacam the lower plateau of Atacam the lower plateau of the Atacama Desert runs into the Atacama Desert runs into the Bolivian Altiplano. A the Bolivian Altiplano. A higher formation, the altiplano higher formation, the altiplano is one of the most active is one of the most active volcanic areas in the Earth. volcanic areas in the Earth. It’s also famous for ferocious It’s also famous for ferocious winds that sweep across it winds that sweep across it shaping the rocks and terrian.shaping the rocks and terrian.

ANIMALS

GuanacoDesert Foxes

Viscacha

In the middle of the driest In the middle of the driest part of the Atacama and up to part of the Atacama and up to 100 kilometers from the coast 100 kilometers from the coast the Gray Gull (Larus the Gray Gull (Larus modestus) lays its egg. Move modestus) lays its egg. Move with the mouse over the with the mouse over the image to see, whats inside the image to see, whats inside the egg. The adult gulls fly egg. The adult gulls fly everyday to the coast to feed. everyday to the coast to feed.

                                                                                           

Animals 1Animals 1 The guanaco is a camelid animal native to South America that The guanaco is a camelid animal native to South America that

stands between 107 and 122 centimeters at the shoulder and stands between 107 and 122 centimeters at the shoulder and weighs about 90 kg. The colour varies very little, ranging from a weighs about 90 kg. The colour varies very little, ranging from a light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath. light brown to dark cinnamon and shading to white underneath. Guanacos have grey faces and small straight ears. They are Guanacos have grey faces and small straight ears. They are extremely striking with their large, alert brown eyes, streamlined extremely striking with their large, alert brown eyes, streamlined form, and energetic pace. They are particularly ideal for keeping in form, and energetic pace. They are particularly ideal for keeping in large groups in open parklands.large groups in open parklands.

Animals 2Animals 2 The desert fox is about the size of a well-grown house cat. The kit The desert fox is about the size of a well-grown house cat. The kit

fox has very large ears and a thick, sandy-yellow coat that enables fox has very large ears and a thick, sandy-yellow coat that enables it to blend effortlessly into the desert environment. Its bushy tail it to blend effortlessly into the desert environment. Its bushy tail has a black tip, and its short, stout legs are good for putting on a has a black tip, and its short, stout legs are good for putting on a burst of speed. It can make a quick dodge to safety, but the desert burst of speed. It can make a quick dodge to safety, but the desert kit fox is not a high-speed endurance runner like the jack rabbit.kit fox is not a high-speed endurance runner like the jack rabbit.

Animals 3Animals 3 Mountain viscacha (Lagidium viscacia): Also called southern Mountain viscacha (Lagidium viscacia): Also called southern

viscacha, this species is similar to the northern viscacha, but its viscacha, this species is similar to the northern viscacha, but its pelage is more red in color. It lives in similar habitat in the Andes.pelage is more red in color. It lives in similar habitat in the Andes.

FLORAFLORA

A tipical plant in the A tipical plant in the Atacama desert is the Atacama desert is the Copiapoa.Copiapoa.