San Pedro de Atacama

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San Pedro de Atacama
—  Town  —
San Pedro de Atacama at the edge of the Salar de Atacama
Location of the Commune of San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is located in Chile
San Pedro de Atacama
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 22°55′S 68°12′W / 22.917°S 68.2°W / -22.917; -68.2
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:

[edit] Outlying sights

[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

San Pedro de Atacama Church
Licancabur volcano viewed from San Pedro de Atacama
Llamas (Lama glama) in the sunset near San Pedro de Atacama
Part of the Chaxas lagoon in the Salar de Atacama.
Miscanti lagoon
El Tatio, close up of Del Tatio geyser.
Scene from Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) near San Pedro de Atacama
Remains of the Tulor settlement (800 BC) near San Pedro de Atacama


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b [1] San Pedro de Atacama article in Letsgochile.com
  2. ^ 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

Coordinates: 22°55′S 68°12′W / 22.917°S 68.2°W / -22.917; -68.2