Copiapó 31.01.06 - 02.02.06

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Parque National Nevada Tres Cruces

Copiapó

Copiapó is an old mining town. It still has several functioning copper, silver and gold mines. It als has the first Railway line built in Southamerica. The train started running in 1850. Nowadays it no long does as road-transport has taken over. It´s an oasis in the desert with Rio Copiapó running through the valley. They grow olives and grapes for eating. The produce goes to Brazil and Europe.

Parque National Nevada Tres Cruces 01.02.06

We booked a 4x4 tour of the sourrounding mountains. The colors were amazing. I don´ think any of our photographs were able to capture the red, green and yellow colors of the desert mountains. We visited Laguna Santa Rosa which is saline and mirrors the surrounding snow mountains. It is the habitat of many birds, incl. Flamingos. The other lake we went to was Laguna Verde which has hot spings on its shore. It was nice bathing at 4500 meters (14800 ft). We also saw the Ojos del Salado the highest living Volcano in the world 6893 m. At last we went to the Salar de Maricunga. A Saltplain with water pushing up through the mountain.