Chile’s mystical Elqui valley and its sky full of stars

The wine region in the Atacama desert is fast becoming the world’s leading astronomy and astro-tourism destination – and its pure skies are perfect for viewing Tuesday’s total solar eclipse

The Atacama desert may be the driest non-polar place on Earth but on its southern fringe is a stretch of vineyard-lined hills – the Elqui valley. This streak of green in arid northern Chile wiggles inland from the Pacific near the nation’s second-oldest city, La Serena. Historically the domain of agriculturists, it’s now increasingly visited by people with a different profession: astronomy.

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from Travel | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2ZYj2dp