Salar de Atacama

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/salar-de-atacama

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Salar de Atacama?Largest salt flat in Chile
2. What is the location?55 km south of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
3. What is the geographic context?Endorheic basin bordered by the Andes and Cordillera de Domeyko mountain ranges
4. Why is the Salar de Atacama so salty?The desert is extremely dry, so water evaporates quickly and leaves behind salt. Because the basin has no rivers that drain out, the salt builds up over time.
5. Where are the volcanoes near the Salar de Atacama?A group of volcanoes, including Licancabur, Acamarachi, Aguas Calientes, and Láscar, line the eastern edge of the salt flat. They make the landscape look dramatic and show the area’s active geology.

Endorheic Basin: A drainage basin that retains water and allows it to evaporate rather than flow to the sea.
Stratovolcano: A tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, ash, and rock.
Brine Extraction: The process of pumping salty water from underground for mineral recovery.
Geopolitical: Relating to politics, especially international relations, as influenced by geographical factors.