Atacama Desert: the chicken or the egg scenario? (lecture)

Dr Laura Evenstar, University of Bristol

It has long been believed that the uplift of the Andes created a rainshadow effect forming the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. New evidence suggests that the Atacama Desert is actually substantially older than this and may have played a huge role in creating such a large Andean mountain chain. This talk will explore why and when the desert formed as well as looking at some of the stranger things you find in the desert, like giant boulders and ancient Inca walkways.