Hiking in Chile
Chile's unusual, ribbon-like shape — 4,300 kilometres (2,700 mi) long and on average 175 kilometres (109 mi) wide — offers a wide range of environments and climates for hikers, ranging from the world's driest desert — the Atacama — in the north, through a Mediterranean climate in the center, to a snow-prone Alpine climate in the south, with glaciers, fjords and lakes of the Torres del Paine National Park. There are approximately 2,000 km of Trails and another 1,400 under development
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[edit] Sendero de Chile (Chilean path)
Recently a project called Sendero de Chile attempts to connect and create major trail systems from all across the Chilean territory stretching from north to south. The project was created to celebrate Chile’s 2010 bicentennial anniversary of independence from Spain. However, delays on the completion of the project have delayed the inauguration date beyond 2010. The Chilean government claims that when Sendero de Chile is completed it will be the “longest hiking route in the world” stretching 9,700 kilometers from the northern city of Arica to one of South America's southernmost settlement, Cape Horn.[1][2]
[edit] Trails
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Trail's infrastructure includes the signs, refuges, camping areas, access points, bridges, and related construction that is found in typical western trail systems.[3]
The hiking trail system in Chile already includes over 2,000 km of paths, and after expansion of Sendero de Chile the number is expected to increase to over 3.460 km. of native forest, desert, lakes and volcanoes, numerous coastal segments, which also overlaps trails along Chile's southern glaciers. The project Sendero de Chile will also have some kilometers of waterways where snorkeling Scuba diving and kayaking will be possible.[4] [5]
The Mega Trail system is classified into different sections and circuits. The main sections are:
- The Trail of the High Planes and the Driest Desert in Northern Chile
- The Trail of the Valleys in Central Chile
- The Trail of Lakes and Volcanoes in Southern Chile, Araucania and lake area)
- The Trail of Patagonia in Patagonia and the Southern Glaciers (from Patagonia to Magallanes)
- The Trail of the Islands (Chiloe and Easter Island)
- See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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