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| Sierra Vicuña Mackenna | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sierra Vicuña Mackenna |
| Location | Antofagasta Region, Chile |
| Elevation m | 2500–3000 |
| Range | Cordillera de la Costa, Andes |
Sierra Vicuña Mackenna is a mountainous ridge in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile located within the Antofagasta Region. The ridge forms part of the western margins of the Pampa del Tamarugal near the coastal escarpment and lies seaward of the main Andes cordillera, bordering features such as the Salar de Atacama and the Loa River. The sierra has been relevant to studies by institutions including the Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica del Norte, and international teams from the Smithsonian Institution and Natural History Museum, London.
The sierra extends along the western edge of the Altiplano adjacent to the Pacífico corridor and faces the Atacama Fault System, connecting geomorphically with the Cordillera de la Costa and the coastal range near Antofagasta (city), Taltal, and Calama. Nearby landmarks include the Pascua-Lama mineral province, the Chuquicamata mine region, the Salar de Punta Negra, and the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve; the ridge influences drainage into basins such as the Loa River watershed, the Río Salado (Antofagasta), and ephemeral channels feeding the Pan de Azúcar National Park area. Administratively it lies within communes like Tocopilla and Antofagasta Province and is traversed by routes connecting to Ruta 5 and regional corridors toward Iquique and Arica y Parinacota Region.
Geologic studies cite the sierra as hosting Mesozoic and Cenozoic lithologies including volcanic and sedimentary sequences correlated with the Atacama Fault and the regional magmatism associated with the Andean orogeny, the Nazca Plate subduction zone, and the Peru–Chile Trench. Rock units record episodes linked to the Jurassic and Cretaceous volcanism comparable to formations near Chuquicamata and El Teniente, with hydrothermal alteration akin to settings at Escondida, Los Bronces, and Pascua-Lama. Structural features show relationships to tectonic events such as the Incaic orogeny and the Andean uplift phases studied by researchers from Instituto de Investigaciones Geológicas (Chile) and the US Geological Survey. Mineralization includes copper, gold, silver, and salts analogous to deposits at Chuquicamata, El Salvador (mining) and Los Pelambres, with evaporitic sequences comparable to the Salar de Atacama evaporite basin.
The climate of the sierra is hyperarid, influenced by the Humboldt Current, the Pacific Anticyclone, and the rain shadow of the Andes, producing conditions similar to the Atacama Desert core observed near Calama, San Pedro de Atacama, and Antofagasta (city). Meteorological patterns are studied by agencies like the Dirección Meteorológica de Chile and international programs such as World Meteorological Organization projects; phenomena include coastal fog known as camanchaca comparable to fog oases near Pan de Azúcar National Park and episodic inputs from El Niño–Southern Oscillation events, which alter precipitation regimes like those documented in 1997–1998 El Niño and 2015–2016 El Niño episodes.
Biota is sparse but includes taxa adapted to hyperaridity, with plant occurrences comparable to those in Puna and Prepuna zones studied at sites like Parque Nacional Llullaillaco and Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos. Vascular plants include halophytic and xerophytic species similar to genera found at Salar de Atacama and Altos de Pica, while faunal records note birds such as Andean flamingo, James's flamingo, Chilean flamingo, and raptors comparable to populations in Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos and Parque Nacional Lauca. Small mammals, reptiles, and arthropods mirror assemblages reported from Lluta Valley and Camina localities, with ecological connections to wetlands like the Salar de Surire and oases such as Pica, Chile.
The sierra lies within territories historically used by indigenous groups including the Atacameño (Likan Antai), Aymara, and pre-Columbian cultures connected to archaeological complexes such as those at San Pedro de Atacama, Tiawanaku, Chinchorro, and Tiwanaku-affiliated sites. Prehispanic trade routes linked the ridge to the Inca Empire networks and to coastal economies centered on Chinchorro culture and caravan pathways toward Potosí and the Altiplano. Spanish colonial activities associated the highlands with transit to ports like Valparaíso and Arica, and modern settlement patterns involve communities in Calama, Tocopilla, and Antofagasta (city); research has been conducted by teams from Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (Chile) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Mining is a primary activity in the broader region, with operations at Chuquicamata, Escondida, El Salvador (mining), and Pascua-Lama illustrating the mineral economy that also affects the sierra; companies involved include Codelco, BHP, and Barrick Gold. Agriculture is limited but uses oasis and riverine irrigation systems akin to those in Loa River valleys and coastal quebradas such as Quebrada de Humahuaca-analogous systems, supporting production similar to Pica, Chile and Tarapacá Region horticulture. Tourism links include eco- and science-tourism comparable to destinations like San Pedro de Atacama, Valle de la Luna, and Parque Nacional Lauca, with activities promoted by regional authorities including the Servicio Nacional de Turismo (SERNATUR) and international operators from National Geographic expeditions.
Conservation measures in the region parallel initiatives at Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos, Parque Nacional Lauca, and the Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve, with governance from agencies such as the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Chile), and NGO partners like World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International. Protected-area proposals and biodiversity surveys have involved collaborations with the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, Smithsonian Institution, and local universities; regional conservation priorities align with Ramsar-designated wetlands like Salar de Surire and heritage concerns raised by UNESCO listings including Chan Chan-style cultural landscapes in the broader Andean context.