Stargaze in Atacama Desert: When the sun sets in the Atacama Desert, a different spectacle of nature is seen. The yellow, salty sand there changes from white to gold, and thin clouds move in a divine motion, turning from orange to pink to purple.
The Arrival of Cold and the Beginning of the Real Show
In the Atacama Desert, cold arrives very quickly because this desert is 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level. But now is not a good time to go inside, not at all!
As soon as the moon sets, the remaining light slowly disappears and the real star takes to the stage as the Milky Way becomes crystal clear.
Atacama Desert: The Best Place for Stargazing
The San Pedro de Atacama Desert is considered the best place on Earth for stargazing, because there is very little light pollution and a lot of dryness there. This desert is the driest desert on Earth, and in some parts of it, it hasn’t rained since records began.
Advantage of the Southern Hemisphere
If you trust the opinion of astronomers, then stargazing in the Southern Hemisphere allows you to see constellations that are better than those from the north.
Why is the Atacama Desert So Dry?
The Atacama Desert is one of the places in the world where the “rainshadow effect” occurs, which means that the Andes mountains prevent rain from reaching the desert.
When clouds come from the east, the air cools as it rises over the mountains, and turns into snow before going west. By the time the air reaches the desert, it has become hot and dry.
How is Life Possible Here?
I started thinking, how is there life in the driest desert on Earth?
Due to algae and crustaceans in the salty waters here, Andean, James’s, and Chilean flamingos are all found in the Atacama Desert.
Not Just Flamingos
When you arrive here, exploring the open spaces, you will definitely see something, especially the higher you go. You will find more vicuña than alpaca, because they need less water due to their small size. These cute creatures live in areas of the desert with more vegetation, such as salt flats. They also roam in packs.
I remember seeing Guanaco in Torres del Paine in Patagonia too. How amazing it is that such animals can survive in such different places, where the environment is so opposite to each other.
Cities and Attracting Things
Most people in the Atacama Desert area live in coastal towns like Antofagasta and Mejillones. If you are a tourist in this region, chances are you will fly to Calama and make San Pedro your base.
Besides tourism, there are copper, silver, and gold mining areas that attract tourists to this area. Small water springs have also attracted local minority groups for years.
The Beauty of Deserts
It may not be a tropical beach, and certainly not a quaint little European village, but there is something else special about deserts — so rough, vast, and inhospitable — that convinces me that I am alive.
Conclusion
Although dry and harsh, this is the reason you get the chance to see the clearest sky on Earth, even if the landscape looks like the moon.
This is the San Pedro de Atacama Desert in Chile, and you won’t find anything like it anywhere else in the world.
Atacama Desert FAQ:
Q.1 Why go to the Atacama?
To see the best stars ever in the sky! Its super clear!
Q.2 Why so dry?
Big mountains block all the rain, so its the driest place on Earth.
Q.3 Does it get cold?
Yes, at night it gets chilly because its so high.
Q.4 What animals live there?
You can see pink flamingos and fuzzy vicuñas.
Q.5 Where do people stay?
Most folks stay in a town called San Pedro.
Q.6 Why is it special?
Its shows you the clearest sky and makes you feel amazed!
