San Pedro de Atacama
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| San Pedro de Atacama | |
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  San Pedro de Atacama
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| Coordinates: 22°55′S 68°12′W / 22.917°S 68.2°W | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Antofagasta |
| Province | El Loa |
| Founded | 1450 aprox. |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Sandra Berna Martínez (2004-2008) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 23,439 km2 (9,049.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,400 m (7,900 ft) |
| Population (2002) | |
| - Total | 4,969 |
| - Density | 0.2/km2 (0.5/sq mi) |
San Pedro de Atacama is a Chilean town and commune in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region. It is located east of Antofagasta, some 100 km (60 mi) southeast of Calama and the Chuquicamata copper mine, overlooking the Licancabur volcano. It features a significant archeological museum, the R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum, with a large collection of relics and artifacts from the region. Native ruins nearby now attract increasing numbers of tourists interested in learning about pre-Columbian cultures. Tourists also visit for other popular activities including sandboarding and stargazing, with the views of the stars from the Atacama unrivalled across the continent.
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[edit] History
San Pedro de Atacama grew, over centuries, around an oasis in the Puna de Atacama, an arid high plateau, its first inhabitants were the Atacameños who developed basketworks and ceramic pottery crafts that can be now be appreciated by tourist in the several souvenir shops as typical products of San Pedro de Atacama[1].
[edit] Climate
The town lies at an average altitude of 2,400 m (7,900 ft) and visitors often experience mild altitude sickness such as dizziness, lethargy and headaches.[2] The local climate is extremely dry (with little or no rainfall recorded in the town itself) and mild, with daytime temperatures between 25-30 degrees Celsius (77-86°F) in the summer (December to February) and 18-25 degrees Celsius (64-77°F) in the winter (June to August). Nighttime temperatures routinely drop below zero and can reach as low as -10°C (14°F) in the winter.
[edit] Water pollution
In the past it was found that the town's water supply was naturally contaminated with high levels of the heavy metal arsenic which leaches from adjacent salt lakes, with levels of as high as 600 µg per litre (60 times the WHO recommended maximum) being recorded. The indigenous population seem to have developed a natural tolerance to this otherwise toxic metal and suffered few ill effects from drinking the water.[citation needed] Recently a filtration plant has been installed in the town which has reduced the levels of arsenic and other contaminants in the local water supply.
[edit] Transportation
San Pedro lies on the main paved road from Argentina over the Paso de Jama, 160 km from the town. The road is paved throughout.
There are frequent bus services to Calama, several buses daily to Santiago and buses on 3 days a week to Salta.
[edit] Tourism
There are various activities for tourist and adventurers in the San Pedro de Atacama area: trekking, climbing, archaeological sightings, exploration tours in natural landscapes and even sand boarding in the desert. Because of its altitude, a brief period of acclimatization may be required.
[edit] Sights in town
In the town there are some cultural sites:
- R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum, displaying ceramics and pottery crafts from the first inhabitants of the area.
- Church of San Pedro, a National Monument, built with adobe, a building material used in the colonial times.
[edit] Outlying sights
- El Tatio, a geyser field with over 80 active geysers.
- Salar de Atacama, a giant salt area (8,000 km²/3,100 mi²) in the middle of the Atacama Desert.
- Chaxas Lagoon, part of Los Flamencos National Reserve in the Salar de Atacama, inhabited by pink flamingos.
- Pukará de Quitor (Fort Quitor). A fortification built by the Atacameño people in the 12th century.
- Puritama Hot Springs
- Laguna Miscanti (Miscanti Lagoon), an altiplanic lagoon at an altitude of 4,100 m (13,500 ft).
- Licancabur, a notable volcano near San Pedro de Atacama.
- Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley): a valley where gigantic dunes and rocks abound.
- Valle de la Luna ("Valley of the Moon"), a moon-like landscape with ruins of old Chilean salt mines, and worker huts.
- Llano de Chajnantor Observatory, a radio-telescope site.
[edit] Holidays and festivals in San Pedro de Atacama
The festivals includes typical dances, masses in the street and a little parade through the main street of San Pedro de Atacama.[1]
- June 28 - Saint Peter
- June 29 - Saint Paul
[edit] Image gallery
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[edit] References
- ^ a b [1] San Pedro de Atacama article in Letsgochile.com
- ^ Cymerman, A; Rock, PB. Medical Problems in High Mountain Environments. A Handbook for Medical Officers. USARIEM-TN94-2. US Army Research Inst. of Environmental Medicine Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division Technical Report. http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/7976. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
[edit] See also
[edit] Related articles
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: San Pedro de Atacama |
- SanPedrodeAtacama.Net & Org
- San Pedro de Atacama website
- R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archeological Museum
- Blog with informations about the Museum Guided Tour Service
- Information, hotels and tour
- San Pedro de Atacama - Official Chile Website
Coordinates: 22°55′S 68°12′W / 22.917°S 68.2°W
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