Small North
This region marks the movement between the arid desert
of the north and the Mediterranean
climate of the central valley. The desert starts to disappear
near the third region of Atacama, and is replaced by the transversal
valleys of Coquimbo in the fourth region.
Thanks to an exceptional climate, this area boasts high
quality beaches and a beautiful azul sky whcih contrasts spectacularly
with the verdant fertility of its valleys.
Located between the second and third regions, the Pan de Azucar National Park, supports a
huge range of wild flora and fauna, in particular, a colony of
Humbolt penguins and 20 species of cacti which survive on the
moisture of the camanchaca (coastal fog). Towards the south, we
find the city of Chañaral and the
copper mine El
Salvador.
Continuing along the coast to the south, we find the resort and
mining port of Caldera, the most important of the third region.
Nearby, is Bahia Inglesa, a famous Caribbean-style
resort with white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue waters.
Almost parallel to Copiapo – capital city of the
third region – in the Andean Range, is the national park Nevado de Tres Cruces,
which contains salt lakes at high-altitude as well as (just outside the
park) one of South America's highest peaks, and the highest active volcano in the world: the
snow-capped Nevado Ojos del Salado. The many lagoons
here are home to a rich variety of birds. This park, together with Pan de Azucar
and Llanos de Challe on the coast, are the only protected areas in the
Atatcama.
As the land and climate become less difficult
further south, the population and number of
cities increase. From La Serena, capital city of the fourth region and the
tourist center of the
area, it is
possible to visit the beautiful and magical Valle del Elqui, or the villages of Pisco Elqui and Vicuña, the birthplaces
of pisco and the poet Gabriela Mistral respectively.
The clearest skies of the southern hemisphere are
also found in the Norte Chico and hence the reason that it hosts
the most important group of astronomical observatories in this
hemisphere: Las Campanas, La Silla, Comunal Cerro
Mamalluca, El Tololo, Cerro Morado, and the
European Southern Observatory.
On the coast, near Ovalle City, the Fray
Jorge National Park is another unique place, in that it is
a typical Valdivian forest situated well over 1,000 km north of
its normal habitat. The trees can flourish here in this semi-desert
area because of the existence of camanchaca (coastal fog).
Other protected areas in the region are the National
Reservation Las Chinchillas, and the Talinay
National Park. Los
Vilos and Pichidangui are other
small resorts, easy to get to, and with good tourist facilities.
MAP |
