Carlos Eduardo Joos
The Parched Earth of the Altiplano
A view of the raw and otherworldly landscape near the Lagunas Altiplánicas in the heart of the Chilean Atacama Desert. At over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, the terrain is a testament to nature's extremes.
In the foreground, the floor of a dry salt pan (salar) has fractured into intricate polygonal patterns. These are desiccation cracks, formed as the mineral-rich ground dries under the intense sun, leaving behind a crust of salt efflorescence that gleams white against the iron-rich, reddish earth.
In the distance, the majestic, snow-dusted peaks of the Andes rise sharply against an impossibly deep blue sky. The prominent conical peak is a classic stratovolcano, a reminder of the region's powerful geological forces. The snow, a stark contrast to the arid plain below, is the lifeblood of this high-altitude ecosystem, its meltwater feeding the hidden lagoons that give this area its name. This is a place of profound silence, stark beauty, and geological wonder.
The Parched Earth of the Altiplano
A view of the raw and otherworldly landscape near the Lagunas Altiplánicas in the heart of the Chilean Atacama Desert. At over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, the terrain is a testament to nature's extremes.
In the foreground, the floor of a dry salt pan (salar) has fractured into intricate polygonal patterns. These are desiccation cracks, formed as the mineral-rich ground dries under the intense sun, leaving behind a crust of salt efflorescence that gleams white against the iron-rich, reddish earth.
In the distance, the majestic, snow-dusted peaks of the Andes rise sharply against an impossibly deep blue sky. The prominent conical peak is a classic stratovolcano, a reminder of the region's powerful geological forces. The snow, a stark contrast to the arid plain below, is the lifeblood of this high-altitude ecosystem, its meltwater feeding the hidden lagoons that give this area its name. This is a place of profound silence, stark beauty, and geological wonder.