|
|||
|
|
Altiplano - Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques
(full-day, early start recommended)
Located 130 km south from San Pedro, at a surface elevation of 4,120 masl are the twin altiplanic Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques. The area is characterized by its remarkable natural beauty, situated at the foothills of the twin peaks of Cerro Miscanti, (5,622 metres above sea level) and the Volcán Miñiques, (5,910 masl).
The two lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques form part of the protected Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos, in this section covering 10,977 hectares, and are administered by the local Atacameño town of Socaire, located 28 km from the site, in association with CONAF.
The landscape is dominated by the volcanoes of Miscanti and Miñiques, surrounded by the mountains of Punta Negras, Chuculaui and Chaique, forming the basin in with the lagoons are located.
The Laguna Miscanti has a surface area of 15km2, and is located at 4,200 masl, and is recharged by summer rainfall and winter snow and ice melt-water filtered underground and containing dissolved salts and minerals, and is discharged by subterranean overflow and evaporation. In the winter its surface almost completely freezes. The Laguna Miñiques is much smaller, only 1.5km2 and is located 5m lower than its larger neighbour, from which it receives underground recharge water.
The lagoons and surrounding areas form part of the traditional pastoral lands of the community of Socaire, and grazing livestock activities are still practiced by local communities to this day.
The area has evidence of human occupation dating back over 5-6,000 years, reflected in the existence of archaeological structures and remains such as fragments of ceramic pottery and obsidian arrow-heads. For example the Miñiques corral which is located between both lagoons and in which more than 40 circular structures are constructed from local stone.
Formation
Prior to the formation of the lagoons as we see them today, the waters from the high mountains eroded their way to the Salar de Atacama, generating bofedales and associated wetlands and plant communities along the way. An eruption of Volcán Miñiques nearly 1 million years ago and subsequent lava flows blocked the river channels and resulted in the formation of the lagoons as we see them today. High evaporation rates have prevented over-flow and the re-erosion of the river pathway, and resulted in the concentration of minerals and salts often associated with altiplanic lagoons.
Activities - Hiking
The Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoon Network Trail (8 to 12 kilometres) can be hiked in 3 or 4 hours and allows you to admire the banks of the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons with the volcanic mountain chain dominating the background.
The lagoons are located at 4,300 meters above sea level, and the lack of oxygen in the air demands the visitor to walks slowly.
Ecology
The reserve represents five types of habitat - the aquatic lagunas; vegas (fertile valleys) and bofedales (marshes); estepa arbustiva (scrub steppe); quebradas (a term used to describe 'broken' river valleys of irregular water flow) and acantilados (cliffs). These habitats support a recorded 94 species of vertebrates, of which 69 species of aves (birds), 18 species of mammiferos (mammals), 6 species of lagartija (lizard) and one species of anfibio (amphibian).
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
| Homepage |
About Us | Contact Us | Booking Enquiry |
 Website designed by EcoElements Digital Solutions |
|||
|
| |||
