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| Laguna Verde (Atacama) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Laguna Verde |
| Location | Antofagasta Region, Atacama Desert, Chile |
| Type | endorheic saline lake |
| Basin countries | Chile |
| Elevation | ~4,350 m |
Laguna Verde (Atacama) Laguna Verde is a high‑altitude saline lake located in the Antofagasta Region of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. The lake lies near notable Andean features such as stratovolcanoes and mining districts, forming part of a chain of saline lakes and wetlands on the Altiplano plateau. Laguna Verde is integral to regional hydrography and has attracted attention from researchers studying volcanism, saline ecosystems, and high‑elevation biogeography.
Laguna Verde sits in a basin close to the border with Bolivia and northeast of the regional capital Calama, within proximity to the Salar de Atacama and the Llullaillaco massif. The lake is positioned near volcanic centers including Licancabur, Juriques, Láscar, Cerro Toco, and Sairecabur, and lies on routes connecting mining towns such as San Pedro de Atacama and Antofagasta (city). Surrounding geographic references include the Altiplano–Puna volcanic complex, the Atacama Fault, and the Andes cordillera. Coordinates place it within the administrative territory of the El Loa Province and the Tocopilla Province influence area.
The basin hosting Laguna Verde occupies a tectonically active sector of the Andean orogeny influenced by subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate. Local geology comprises volcanic rocks of the Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene epochs associated with the Central Volcanic Zone and the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex. Nearby volcanic features include Puyehue, Parinacota, and the composite cones Licancabur and Láscar, which have produced tephra layers correlated with regional stratigraphy. Hydrogeologically, Laguna Verde is an endorheic lake fed by high‑elevation catchments, snowmelt from Andean glaciers, and subsurface inflows related to the Altiplano aquifers. Evaporation rates link it to the Atacama Desert hyperarid regime and to paleolacustrine episodes comparable to those recorded for Salar de Uyuni and Lake Titicaca during the Pleistocene.
Salinity and mineralogy of Laguna Verde reflect brine chemistry dominated by chlorides, sulfates, and borates common to Andean saline lakes, with documented concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and lithium analogous to deposits in the Salar de Atacama and Salar de Uyuni. The lake supports extremophile microbial communities related to genera studied at El Tatio, Salar de Atacama, and Laguna Colorada, including halophilic bacteria and archaea relevant to research by institutions such as the Universidad de Chile, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and international teams from University of California, Davis and University of Oxford. Avifauna includes flamingo species comparable to James's flamingo, Andean flamingo, and Chilean flamingo that utilize nearby wetlands like Laguna Hedionda and Salar de Surire. Vegetation is sparse but includes high‑altitude grasses associated with Puna grassland communities, similar to those in Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and Los Flamencos National Reserve.
Laguna Verde is situated within a cold, arid high‑Andean climate influenced by the Pacific Anticyclone, the Humboldt Current, and continental atmospheric circulation including El Niño–Southern Oscillation variability. Diurnal temperature ranges are large, with intense solar radiation driven by elevation and atmospheric clarity characteristic of the Atacama Desert. Precipitation is primarily seasonal during austral summer wet season events linked to the South American summer monsoon and affects hydrologic balance similar to patterns observed across the Altiplano. Wind patterns and aeolian transport contribute to dust fluxes known from Puna landscapes and affect evaporative dynamics comparable to those studied at Salar de Atacama.
The Laguna Verde basin lies within territories historically occupied by indigenous peoples including those associated with the Atacameño (Likan Antai), Aymara, and preceramic cultures that interacted with high‑Andean trade routes connecting to Tiwanaku and Inca Empire spheres. Archaeological evidence in surrounding highlands includes ceremonial sites and high‑altitude shrines akin to those on Licancabur and Llullaillaco. During the colonial era the region featured in routes connecting Potosí silver mining to Pacific ports and later in nitrate and copper exploitation tied to enterprises such as Compañía de Salitres y Ferrocarriles de Antofagasta. Contemporary cultural significance intersects with tourism in San Pedro de Atacama, scientific projects by the Instituto de Investigaciones Altiplánicas, and heritage narratives promoted by regional municipalities and Chilean national agencies.
Laguna Verde forms part of a broader network of high‑altitude wetlands and saline basins targeted for conservation by initiatives inspired by protections at Los Flamencos National Reserve, Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, and Ramsar‑listed sites in the region. Threats include water extraction associated with mining interests similar to those operating in the Antofagasta Region and freshwater diversion experiences comparable to disputes around Salar de Atacama and El Tatio geyser field. Tourism draws visitors from itineraries centering on San Pedro de Atacama, Laguna Cejar, and the Tocorpuri area; operators include regional tour companies, eco‑lodges, and scientific excursions led by universities such as Universidad Católica del Norte.
Access to Laguna Verde is via unpaved high‑altitude roads connecting from San Pedro de Atacama and provincial routes linking to Calama and the Paso de Jama border crossing with Argentina. Infrastructure in the vicinity is limited: services are concentrated in San Pedro de Atacama, Calama, and mining camps associated with companies like CODELCO and private concessions operating in the Antofagasta Region. Safety considerations reflect altitude sickness risks documented for travelers crossing the Altiplano, and access restrictions may be enforced seasonally by regional authorities and by stakeholders including communities of the Likan Antai.
Category:Lakes of Antofagasta Region Category:Altiplano