3/25  Today we took an all day tour to 2 little villages, a flamingo reserve and 2 high altitude lakes. On the way we saw the Alma Project antennas. They are high up in the Andes and there are 66 antennas which produce better pictures than satellites and now scientists can also hear in outerspace. They should be functional at the end of this year. There are 400 volcanoes in Chile, 150 are active. When they erupt, it is not magna flowing, only toxic fumes and ashes, which the wind always sends into Argentina.
The landscape chanes dramatically and suddenly, depending on the salt and water content in the ground. Anything from completely barren to lush greenery. It is mesmerizing.
The flamingo reserve was pretty cool. There are 3 different types here. The guide said in about 5 years there won't be any. Some company is draining the rivers underground for the lithium content, which has reduced their habitat by 80%. Chile exports 40% of the world's lithium for batteries.
We stopped in a small village Toconao, which farms on terraces. They do it just like the Incas from long ago. Channels bring water to each of the individual terraced plots. They grow apples. Pomagranates, nuts, oranges, etc.
The 2nd village, Socaire, has only 200 residents, high up in themountains. They grow quinoa, which only grows in dry climates between 3500 and 5000 meters above sea level.
The high altitude lakes are at 4200m. The cout bird can be found here and no other place in the world. Not many left. We saw a few and some wild camels that look more like a llama.
On the way home, we stopped for lunch. A local soup made from vegtables and chicken. Very good and filling. Pretty much everyone took a siesta on the way home.