Endless hues of beige and pink surround the quiet highway that crosses the Atacama, a thin 1,600km strip of desert in the northern half of Chile, located between the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Andes mountain range bordering Bolivia and Argentina to the east.
From a distance, tips of snow covering the mountains emerge as a surreal landscape, a striking contrast to the arid heat of the desert. A few llamas grazing on dry shrubs and bushes seem to be the sole sign of life in these harsh surroundings. Known as the driest non-polar desert on earth, some parts of the Atacama only experience rainfall every 20 to 100 years.
NASA, which likens it to Mars on Earth due to its barren soil, has been using the location to test instruments for future missions to the Red Planet, researching techniques for how to detect life in a seemingly sterile environment.
Due to its otherworldly appearance, it has been used as a location for movies such as Space Odyssey. And its extreme topography with vast salt flats and soaring volcanoes (including the highest active one on earth) has been a dream for geologists and archeologists. Just last August, scientists unearthed an ancient cemetery of flying reptiles that roamed the country more than 100 million years ago and lived alongside the dinosaurs. This very part of Chile also reported findings of mummies 2,000 years older than those in Egypt.
Beyond the enigmatic appeal of the Atacama Desert, there is the pure beauty of its overwhelming vastness, which fuels a desire to explore. Following an hour's drive from El Loa Airport in Calama, Chile-the best entry point to the Atacama Desert and an easy connection from the country's capital, Santiago-signs of life and greenery appear by a faint stream of water known as the San Pedro River.
Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FASHION IS POWER
American author, filmmaker, psychologist and educator Roberta Degnore who teaches a world-first course called "The Psychology of Gender, Perception, and Self-Expression in Fashion" at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology argues that fashion is anything but frivolous.
The Italian Who Does It Better
After fifty years in fashion, Giorgio Armani—the man and the brand is still a force to be reckoned with.
Most Stylish Women 2024
Stylishness isn’t just about being fashionable. Instead, it’s a blend of self-assurance, passion and stories that makes the idea of style so multifaceted and rich. From a mother and daughter duo who approach dressing up with equal exuberance, to an entrepreneur championing the varied tales of batik to a singer-songwriter showing her chic chops with a walking stick, meet the 10 women who inspire us with their singular takes on personal style.
CITY ON HIGH
One city, 10 collaborators, 10 collections-Moncler lit up Shanghai with its City Of Genius showcase.
PRETTY NOVEL 172
Franck Muller presents its smallest skeleton movement to date in beautiful miniaturised novelties from the Round collection.
THE JOIE
Chopard's newest global brand ambassador Bella Hadid details her appreciation for the Maison and what she loves about its jewellery.
SOUL SEARCHING
In Rajasthan, India, a first-time visitor explores two stunningly singular Aman properties and experiences the raw and powerful beauty of the northwestern state.
INTO THE BLUE
With the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, the watchmaker is on a mission to safeguard our most precious resources, including the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area in Indonesia.
LIFE IN TRANSIT
Entrepreneur and creative multi-hyphenate Sherry Ang shares how her transitional home blends elegant simplicity with the vibrant chaos of family life.
YES,CHEFS!
BAZAAR talks to three of the hottest names in Singapore's culinary scene to get the hot, hard truths of the trade.
