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FM
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South America: Natural wonders range from a Chilean desert to an Argentine glacier

 

While summer in Canada slowly winds down, it’s time to start planning a fall getaway to milder climes. With most of the continent tucked squarely under the equator, South America beckons those looking to escape the cold and discover some stunning spots right under our nose. Though Machu Picchu is a must-see, South America has so many more fascinating things on offer. Here is a handful of the continent’s most magical spots:

 

 

Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on the planet, isan ideal place for stargazing. Tourists rest above a hill in Valle de la Luna [Moon Valley) located inside the nature reserve of Los Flamencos in the Atacama Desert, near San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile. Chile's Moon Valley monument is a series of salt hills and dunes that gets its name from its likeness to a lunar landscape. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado (IVAN ALVARADO/REUTERS)

Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on the planet, isan ideal place for stargazing. Tourists rest above a hill in Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) located inside the nature reserve of Los Flamencos in the Atacama Desert, near San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile. Chile's Moon Valley monument is a series of salt hills and dunes that gets its name from its likeness to a lunar landscape. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado
(IVAN ALVARADO/REUTERS)

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Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)

 

Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, located in Bolivia near the crest of the Andes, some 3,650 metres above sea level. istockphoto

 

The great salt flat of Uyuni, Bolivia, is one of the most bizarre and unlikely places in the world – a desert of flat white salt that seems to never end. The prehistoric lake sits at more than 3,600 metres above sea level, inducing symptoms of altitude sickness in some. In fact, it is so white that snow blindness is also a common symptom among travellers to the area. But never fear! This is one of the world’s most unusual ecosystems, featuring unexpected flora and fauna such as pink flamingos and giant cacti. A train graveyard gives visitors a glimpse into the extraction economy of the 19th century and its problems. The salt flat is only one feature of this extraordinary area, which also features active volcanoes, hot springs, geysers and oddly colourful lakes. Uyuni can really only be visited by organized tours booked out of the nearby towns and probably should not be attempted alone, given the possibly of getting lost.

FM

Potosi (Bolivia)

 

Tourists walk down a tunnel during the inauguration of the David Huallpa Historic Miner Museum, where the biggest attraction is a statue of"The Uncle" (Satan), which mine workers in Bolivia pay tribute to and ask to protect the minerals and their lives, in the Cerro Rico mountain, 4,205 meters above sea level and 480 meters deep, near Potosi, in southeastern Bolivia on November 27, 2009. The new museum is the highest in the world and has 19 rooms where visitors can learn about mining and "The Uncle", and are offered oxygen and coca leaves. AFP PHOTO/Aizar Raldes/Getty Images

 

There is probably no place that more represents the incredible scale of colonial-era resource extraction in South America than Potosi. In the 16th century, Cerro de Potosi, the mountain filled with silver that overlooks the city, began to be heavily exploited by Spain until it was depleted some time in the 19th century. Though mining still goes on today, Potosi is now a haven for history buffs looking to see one of the major engines of Spanish expansion in the New World. Though the colonial town is pretty for a stroll, visiting one of the mines is the real draw. The experience is shocking, to say the least. Working conditions don’t seem to have changed much in the past few centuries, and it becomes all too clear why most miners don’t live past 50 years old. Tours are about $20 and the most reputable company is probably Koala Tours.

FM

Perito Moreno (Argentina)

 

Climbers trek on Argentina's Perito Moreno glacier near the city of El Calafate, in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz. Scientists warn that glaciers in the Andes are melting because of the effects of climate change. According to studies, these accumulations of ice are thawing at a pace so fast that they could disappear in 25 years. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

 

Could the Perito Moreno glacier be the world’s most epic natural wonder? I vote yes. In front of the massive floating ice field, the power and beauty of nature are more apparent than anywhere else I have seen. The creaks, crunches and crashes of the ice remind you we are but tiny organisms on Earth at the mercy of nature. To give you an idea how large the glacier is, consider that its surface area is just under half the size of Toronto and its full height from top to bottom (which resides under the surface of Lago Argentino) is just under half the height of the CN Tower. The glacier is visited from El Calafate, a lonely and tranquil frontier town that feels like the end of the Earth. In the winter time, crampons are sometimes needed to get around the city’s icy streets.

FM

Colca Canyon (Peru)

 

Peru's vast Colca Canyon in Arequipa, south of Lima, the world s second deepest gorge that gives birth to the mighty Amazon River, has the Andean nation hoping it can kindle its nascent tourism industry. The Canyon, which plunges to depths of 11,110 feet and stretches more than 60 miles in the volcanic highlands of Peru, draws tourists from around the world to visit not only its vast terraced slopes but to catch a glimpse of the soaring condors that make it their home. REUTERS/Heinz Plenge/Promperu

 

Just north of the pretty Peruvian town of Arequipa is the Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest and certainly one of the most awe-inspiring. There are about a dozen traditional villages dotted around the region where terraced farming is still practised, offering a glimpse into the past (and present) of indigenous Peruvians. The canyon’s most stunning feature, however, is the condors that fly overhead. The largest birds on the planet give visitors a show and a scare as they swoop down past the viewing point Cruz del Condor and threaten to scoop up small children. It’s easiest to book a two- or three-day tour of the region out of Arequipa rather than trying to explore the incredibly mountainous region yourself. The roadways are hair-raising.

FM

The Atacama Desert (Chile)

 

Tourists walk in Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) located inside the nature reserve of Los Flamencos in the Atacama Desert, near San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile. Chile's Moon Valley monument is a series of salt hills and dunes that gets its name from its likeness to a lunar landscape. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

 

When you think of Chile you might not think of desert, but, unknown to most, a lot of the northern part of the country is made up of vast sand and salt deserts sitting on a high plateau in the shadow of the Andes. The desert is likely the oldest in the world and is considered one of the driest places on the planet. It is also considered one of the best place for stargazing, given its constantly cloudless skies and high altitude. San Pedro de Atacama, the main town for visitors to the region, feels like a mock-up of a Wild West frontier town until you realize this is not make-believe – this is life for the people there and this is really where they live. The town can be used as a base for the surrounding wonders of the region, including geysers and hot springs and the Salar de Uyuni nearby (see above).

FM

Medellin/Rio de Janeiro (ColombiBrazil)

 

A cable car passes over the Complexo do Alemao pacified 'favela' community on March 23, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 'favela' was previously controlled by drug traffickers and is now occupied by the city's Police Pacification Unit (UPP). A number of UPP's were attacked by drug gang members on March 20 and some pacified favelas will soon receive federal forces as reinforcements. The UPP are patrolling some of Rio's favelas amid the city's efforts to improve security ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games.  Mario Tama/Getty Images

 

I’ve included these two cities on the list not because of their breathtaking geographic locations but rather because of their incredible transformation over the past few decades from dangerous, crime-ridden cities to models of urban development. That’s not to say there aren’t still massive problems such as crime, police brutality, joblessness and economic inequality – some of which are getting worse – but these places are still proof that cities can change for the better. One important lesson that Medellin brought to the world is the unifying power of public transport, connecting the slums with the city and empowering people who just want to make a living and provide for their families. The city’s cable car that reaches deeply into the comunas is being copied the world over for its innovation and must be taken while in the city. Police and military occupation of Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous neighbourhoods ahead of the World Cup and the Olympic Games has also changed the equation in the Brazilian coastal city. Rio’s “pacification project” over the past several years that sought to break the control of drug traffickers in the favelas has not come without criticism, but the result has been a sea change in the security situation.

FM

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