From San Pedro de Atacama to Antofagasta
Volcán Licancabur
San Pedro de Atacama
Laguna Baltinache
Valle del la Luna
Riding along the Salar de Atacama….
I didn‘t see any ciclysts having a bath here…
(„Baden“ German for „to bath“ but Spanish for „ ford“)
Laguna Chaxa
Great spots for camping and what a view espacially at sunset and sunrise!
Peine; the last stop for water before crossing the salar and the following stretch of desert on the way to Baquedano on the Panamericana.
The Lithium mine from Rockwood Lithium (now Albemarle).
The Salar of Atacama contains according to According to LithiumMine.com 27% of the world’s lithium reserve base and and Chile provided according to the USGS in 2016 34% of the world’s mine production of lithium carbonate. According to the Guardian there are plans to triple lithium output in Chile.
Always great views of the sky, stars and galaxies at night.
The copper mine „Lomas Bayas“.
Arriving in Baquedano, on the „5“ (Panamericana) again.
The last evening in the desert.
A good description of the route I took can be found on the website of „Andes by Bike“ (just in the other direction from Antofagasta to San Pedro).
Antofagasta
The historic harbour
Copper is an important part of the economy here – As to be seen in the statueof a miner made of copper at the areal of the exhibition for mining industry Exponor.
On this Sunday the road was closed for cars – Bicylce day.
So a nice ride out of town to visit „La Portada“
