A groundbreaking new study led by UMass Amherst researchers is the first to comprehensively account for the hydrological impact of the mining of lithium, the key component of the batteries that are crucial for the transition away from fossil fuels and towards green energy.
The lively capital Santiago is pretty central, with easy access to the Andes and the wild Pacific coast, while the south promises dramatic topography punctuated by glaciers, fjords, mountains and forests in Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park. And there are adventures to have beyond the mainland too – particularly on the far-flung yet enigmatic Easter Island, best-known for its mysterious stone statues or ‘
moai’.
Head for the pastel-coloured Laguna Tuyajto and Laguna Lejia, with their flocks of flamingoes set against a backdrop of mineral-streaked mountains, and the red landscapes of the Valley of Arcoiris. There’s also rock-climbing, mountain-biking, horse-riding and numerous treks.