Tatacoa Desert
| Tatacoa Desert | |
|---|---|
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| Geography | |
| Country | Colombia |
| District | Huila |
| Coordinates | 3°14′N 75°10′W / 3.23°N 75.17°W |
The Tatacoa Desert is the second largest arid zone in
. It is renowned as a rich deposit of fossils and a tourist destination. The Tatacoa Desert has two distinctive colors: ochre in the area of Cuzco and gray in the Los Hoyos area.The Tatacoa, or the Valley of Sorrows, as it was called in 1538 by the
Geography
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The Tatacoa covers 330 square kilometers around the town of Villavieja. The area is heavily eroded and crossed by dry canyons that develop transiently in the winter months. These shapes are created on clay surfaces, creating labyrinthine gullies in the landscape that can reach 20 meters deep.
Fauna and flora
There is relatively little runoff, and animal and plant life is adapted to the conditions of low humidity and high temperatures. The plants in this area are adapted to climatic conditions through the development of horizontal roots of up to 30 meters and vertical roots up to 15 meters deep that facilitate access to water. Wildlife includes turtles, rodents, snakes, spiders, scorpions, eagles, alligators and wildcats, and cacti reaching between four and five meters high.[citation needed]
Tourism
In addition to its geography, its atmospheric conditions are ideal for astronomy. Tatacoa has little pollution or noise, attracting tourists who stay there to enjoy the scenery and tranquility.[1]
References
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Tatacoa Desert - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2018-05-09.