Geomorfología y geopatrimonio del Mar de Dunas de Atacama, Copiapó (27º S), Chile

Abstract

In the south of the Atacama desert it is located an Aeolian Sand Sea Dunes that is composed by six intermountain dune fields with complex typology of active, semi-active, and stable desert dunes; plus cerro Medanoso, where active dunes reach 1,643 meters of altitude. The uniqueness of desert dune forms and their large volume constitute a remarkable scenic landscape, of regional and national relevance, in the neighbourhoods of Copiapó (27° S). Besides this, the mass of sand in the dunes is an heritage that comes from morphoclimatic conditions from the past, hence their scientific relevance. The typological classification, description, and analysis of the Sand Sea, plus detailed cartography, all of them results from this research, constitute a scientific foundations base to promote protection, and sustainable use of the Sand Sea, and Atacama's geoheritage