Los Flamencos National Reserve

This reserve, created in 1990, consists of seven areas located in the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Each one of them has a different geography, flora, fauna and hydrography.

The Tara Salt Flat - Aguas Calientes area is five hours east of San Pedro. Here you will find attractions like: Tara lagoon and salt flat, Zapaleri river, Aguas Calientes 1 Salt Flat, and Negra Lagoon. The animals that dwell in this area are the vicuña and the Andean fox, whereas the most important flora specimens are the water tola (Baccharis tola) and the amaia.

The area of Pujsa Salt Flat is located a bit further south of Tara-Aguas Calientes. Just like the former, its relief features rolling plains with an inter-mountain depression and the hills of Negro de Pujsa and Balle. The fauna present in the area includes vizcachas, tawny tuco-tucos, flamingoes, rheas, condors and eaglets, among others.

The Lagoons Miscanti - Miñiques area is located south of Socaire, and it is remarkable for its beautiful lagoons, which give the reserve its name, as well as a rich and varied fauna with flamingoes, crested ducks, rheas, eaglets, and lesser horned owls. Its mountainous geography is made up by hills and volcanoes, reaching a maximum altitude of 5,910 meters (19,384 ft) above sea level.

There are two differente areas in the Atacama Salt Flat: Soncor and Quelana. Being part of the salt flat, the soils in this area is flat and saline, located at 2,300 meters (7,544 ft) above sea level. Several bird species dwell here, but the flamingo is the most characteristic by far. There are three lagoons: Puilar, Chaxas and Barros Negros, which form the hydric system of the reserve. Regarding glore, the most important species are the giant kelp, cachiyuyo, brea and salty distichlis spicata.

Moon Valley is also part of the reserve; the gray and South American red fox dwell here, as well as eaglets, chercans, thrushes and others. The Salt Mountain Chain is responsible for the existence of this valley, and there are no water sources in the area.