Despite its seemingly inhospitable climate, the Atacama Desert of Chile's El Norte Grande region holds a mystery in its beautiful colors as the sun sinks behind the endless stretch of sand, rock, and mountains. Situated between the ocean and the Andes Mountains and stretching 1000 km to the Peruvian border, the desert is a rocky, barren landscape that is flanked only by a few mountains that glow in the twilight.

Because of the extremely dry climate, many relics have been preserved such as the Chinchorro Mummies, the best-preserved and oldest find ever. The seven thousand year old burial site containing 96 bodies was found in 1983 by pipe layers who were working near the foot of El Morro.

The oldest desert in the world and perhaps the driest, Atacama has never had any rainfall in its existence. Despite its lack of hydration, the Atacama is very rich in minerals, including nitrates, which have been the backbone of Chile's economy since its independence. Chile even went to war over this lucrative export in the War of the Pacific, which waged from 1878 and 1883, and which left Chile with an unlikely gem: the Atacama Desert.

In the west the plains are lined with a range of coastal hills that drop dramatically to a narrow plateau of land where more life can be found, such as the prosperous town of Antofagasta, Iquigue, and Arica. These towns are scattered hundreds of miles apart and are supported by an irrigation system that pumps water from the Andes.

To the east the desert ascents to the cordillera and eventually rises to an altiplano, a steep plateau containing lakes, snow-capped volcanic mountains, and salt flats. From the top the view is a beautiful panorama of dramatic landscape. The area also contains exotic highlights that can't be found anywhere else in the world. Many visitors flock to the vast expanse of coastal scenery in the west that stretches from both ends of the desert. You'll also find oasis villages such as Pica and Mamina, which contain the area's hot springs. Another popular destination is the town of San Pedro de Atacama, which is a starting off point for excursions to the famous El Tatio Geysers and the evocative moonscapes of Valle de la Luna and the Parque Nacional Lauca.

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