Argentina & Chile November 2008 - Day 4 - Fiambala - Copiapo 500km

[David_L]

Andean Condor. The white wing patches are very distinctive even on a distant bird. We saw some more Condors later in the trip but this first sighting was a huge thrill. They are building an 'eco' hotel at one end of this lake. I really hope that it doesn't spoil this magical spot, but I fear it will. It was really windy here with a cold wind stright off the higher peaks and the air was distinctly thin. We are up around 3500m here.

[attachment 16454 Andean_condor.jpg]

[David_L]

There wasn't a lot of vegetation here, but around the wetter areas there was a rough wiry grass and higher slopes were made golden in colour by a dry grass which seemed to be the only thing that could survive here. This was enough to provide sustinence to these hardy animals, seen and photographed from the van. I thought they were Guanacos, but on looking at my pictures now I'm pretty sure they are Vicunas. The two species are similar in colour and markings, but Vicunas are smaller and slighter with longer necks and smaller heads.

[attachment 16455 vicunas1.jpg]

[David_L]

The wonders of the zoom lens! The Vicunas clearly didn't want to be our friends and mostly we got to see their bacK ends.

[attachment 16456 vicunas2.jpg]

[David_L]

However this one hung back to get a better look at us and gave me my best shot of the trip.


[attachment 16457 vicunas3.jpg]

[CoronaCactus]

More great pics!
Awesome journey guys, thanks again for posting your adventures.

[Mike P]

General view from the MiniBus. We were approaching the pass by this stage.
[attachment 16458 mm1.jpg]

[Mike P]

I was struck by the beauty and wildness of the terrain. I had waited to see this type of terrain since I first watched 'The flight of the condor' back in the 1980's......
[attachment 16459 mmm1.jpg]
Sulfur lake?

[Mike P]

And then after a while longer we reached the border post on the Argentinian side. It was now very cold with a really strong wind and the air so thin i was having trouble catching my breath.
[attachment 16460 n1.jpg]
In the background is a volcano called Incahausi I believe.
I kept thinking this is as I had always imagined Mordor to look.

[Mike P]

[attachment 16461 ppp1.jpg]
Argentinian flag and volcano.

[Mike P]

[attachment 16462 o1.jpg]
The landscape behind the border post with signs of rubbih burning and a discarded bottle...