Manel Paret EspadalerManel Paret Espadaler

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

It’s composed mostly of salt It’s composed mostly of salt basins (salares), sand and lava basins (salares), sand and lava flows.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 the Atacam the lower plateau of the Atacama Desert runs into the Atacama Desert runs into the Bolivian Altiplano. A higher Bolivian Altiplano. A higher formation, the altiplano is one of formation, the altiplano is one of the most active volcanic areas in the most active volcanic areas in the Earth. It’s also famous for the Earth. It’s also famous for ferocious winds that sweep ferocious winds that sweep across it shaping the rocks and across it shaping the rocks and terrian.terrian.

ANIMALS

GuanacoDesert Foxes

Viscacha

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

Animals 1Animals 1

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

Animals 2Animals 2

The desert fox is about the size of a well-grown house cat. The kit fox 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 it to has very large ears and a thick, sandy-yellow coat that enables it to blend effortlessly into the desert environment. Its bushy tail has a blend effortlessly into the desert environment. Its bushy tail has a black tip, and its short, stout legs are good for putting on a burst of 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 kit fox is 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.not a high-speed endurance runner like the jack rabbit.

Animals 3Animals 3

Mountain viscacha (Lagidium viscacia): Also called southern viscacha, Mountain viscacha (Lagidium viscacia): Also called southern viscacha, this species is similar to the northern viscacha, but its pelage is more this species is similar to the northern viscacha, but its pelage is more red in color. It lives in similar habitat in the Andes.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.