Oct. 19th, 2002

Brian Grigsby

Today we started taking pulse oximetry readings at sea level in Antofagasta. This is important to document because this is an objective way to test how our pulminary system is reacting to altitude. We might feel fine, but this reading allows us to monitor how we are doing at the higher altitude. We packed up all of our gear and loaded it onto 2 vehicles that will take us to San Pedro de Atacama. Before we left we were interviewed by the Chile news crew NTV. Nathalie discussed the importance of mission and its relation to Mars exploration, and I explained the importance to students and education. Guillermo translated our responses into spanish. Cecilia also responed to the importance of this expedition. This exposure will allow students in Chile to access the informtaion that is being shared on the website.

We began our trip heading out of Antofagasta over the mountains and into the arid climate of the desert. This was an interseting contrast, to be at a location at sea level, where it is cool and moist, to a dry and hot climate of the desert. On our way to San Pedro, we passed over the Tropic of Capricorn which marks the southern limit of the tropical zone. We stopped to take pictures at a plaque that marks this line.

While crossing the desert, along our route, there is a wealth of history. Also noticable were many mining communities. These places mined for copper, nitrates, iodine, lithium, and sulfur. The lithium deposit is the largest in the world and was co-discovered by Guillermo. One of these mines, called Chuquicamata, is the largest copper mine in the world. It was visible from a distance, but the immensity of it was clear. The peat is 6km long 4km wide and 650 meters deep. We also crossed over the longest river in Chile, called the Loa river. This was interesting to see because for miles around, the desert colors are greys, browns, and reds but when we crossed this river, the vegetation of the trees and grass seemed to leap out of the scenery. People were enjoying a Saturday afternoon by the river.

As we continued, we made our way across the desert, and over a mountain pass, where we had our first view of Licancabur. It was just visible over the top of a ridge, and this began to set in my mind the reality of what we were now doing. Further along, we stopped and Guillermo explained to us the landscape that streched out before us. He also told the story of a colleage named Sydney Hollynsworth that visited him in 1968. He was a British professor that came to Chile to study the geology of the region. Guillermo stopped at a point to show him the full view of Licancabur. The British professor was so entranced with the mountain that he said when he died, he wanted to be burried at that spot. 6th months later, he died, and his family took his ashes to that place he wanted.

The landscape is has many drastic features. Because of the techtonic uplifting occuring, the Altiplano is a region where a section of the Earth's surface has been uplifted. The mountians behind them were breathtaking. But Licancabur towers above them all.

Another place we stopped was called Pulylac, which are formations made from Cretaceous rocks that have been uplifted from their previous locations. The pictures included show this drastic relief. We continued on into San Pedro de Atacama that is a beautiful town with many shops and houses that are sprawlled out across this oasis.