Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Photos: it's not a mirage! The amazing oasis town that flourishes in the middle of the driest place on Earth

Huacachina at night: magical views of the desert settlement, a flourishing town in the middle of the sand
In the midst of one of the driest climates in the world, is an oasis town with lush palm trees, flourishing foliage, and a tranquil lagoon which is said to have curative properties.
The magical town is called Huacachina, and it can be found not only on adventurers' bucket lists, but also in the barren Atacama Desert of Peru.
Visitors can visit the surreal settlement and the 96 residents, who thrive on running small businesses on their greatest resource; sand.

Nestled in one of the driest locations on earth, is Huacachina; a town complete with trees, hotels, shops and even an oasis library - tranquil!


An aerial view of the Huacachina oasis in Ica, Peru, 300 km south of Lima. The settlement is home to 96 residents, who live around the lagoonThe magical town is called Huacachina, and it can be found in the barren Atacama Desert of PeruThe lake is believed by some to have healing powers, and in the 1940s, wealthy Peruvians would travel to the location to bathe in its watersThis mystical town is contained within a sea of sand and is completely encompassed by the brutal environment surrounding itThe luscious town was popular with wealthy Peruvians in the 1940s, who used to come to bathe in the lagoon, as it was thought the waters had healing powersThe picturesque village is even featured on the back of the 50 Nuevo Sol note (Peru’s official currency). Like most deserts, the temperature is typically hot, sunny and dry with very little rain. 'High season' falls between May and August, which is winter time for the regionTranquil waters contrast with the barren surroundings in the Peruvian settlement. The area has been declared a national cultural heritage site, by the National Institute of Culture, and it is hoped that this tranquil oasis will never become a mirage in the desertAlthough there are many stories how the oasis was created, one version states that the rolling sand dunes were created around the pool when an Incan princess fled her bath after being discovered bathing by a young hunterThe Incans make their living on guests coming from afar to climb to the top of a wind-sculptured sand dune and watch the sunset over the golden landscape, before sailing on down rented sandboards or dune buggies
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)