Did you know? 7
6. Chile has the biggest underground mine of the world:
It is called El Teniente, and it has more than 2,400 km of tunnels. It is a 2-hour car drive from the capital. Ask for daily tours from Santiago and enjoy this truly underground city. (See Around Santiago section, page 78).
7. The oldest mummies ever found belong to the people who lived on the Chilean coastline:
More than 7,000 years old (2,000 years older than the Egyptian ones), these mummies were a part of the Chinchorro culture. Visit them at the Pre-Columbian Art Museum in Santiago, or at the Archaeological Museum of San Miguel de Azapa, in Arica. Be impressed by their amazing state of conservation. (See Chilean Pre-Columbian art Museum, page 26).
8. In the Chilean part of the Andes Mountain you can find the highest active volcano in the world:
Ojos Del Salado has a height of 6,893 mt (22,614 ft). It is the second highest peak in the American continent. Would you like to visit it? (See Adventure section, page 46)
9. Chile has the biggest open-pit mine of the world:
Chuquicamata, located at the heart of the Atacama Desert, belongs to the Codelco State Company. If you are planning to visit San Pedro de Atacama, this is a place you must see. Ask for tours.
10. Northern Chile has the world’s clearest skies, which makes it a world astronomic center:
Its atmospheric stability, dryness and height, favor clear skies, low relative humidity and good observations. Visit the astronomic observatories in Antofagasta (Paranal), Atacama (Las Campanas) and Coquimbo (Cerro Tololo, Gémini and La Silla). For more information visit www.onceinchile.com
Puerto Williams ...and“Los Dientes de Navarino”