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The Atacama Desert, known for its extreme aridity, is home to two abandoned hydroelectric plants that hold fascinating stories of a lost industrial past.
The Atacama Desert, known for its extreme aridity and crystal-clear skies, also holds fascinating stories from its industrial past. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this region played a crucial role in the production of salt, an essential element for fertilizers and explosives. In the heart of this arid landscape, low-flow rivers served as the basis for the construction of hydroelectric plants that influenced this industry.
Today, these hydroelectric plants are abandoned, but they remain striking vestiges of an important chapter in history.
Relics of the hydroelectric plants
A série Exploring the Unbeaten Path brought to light two of these hydroelectric plants. The first, built in 1905 and commissioned in 1911, operated until 1956. It is currently catalogued as a historical monument, although the abandonment allowed the looting of several of its elements. Despite this, the structure remains impressive, with an intact reservoir and three 500 HP Voith turbines manufactured in Heidenheim.
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The second plant, built in 1898, ceased operations in 1929. It had two turbines, and its reservoir can still be found. However, the lack of supervision contributed to the advanced state of completion in which it is found today.
A sky that enchanted
In addition to its industrial relics, the Atacama Desert is world-famous for another reason: its unparalleled astronomical visibility. The arid climate and altitude make the night sky remarkably clear, allowing for stunning views of the Milky Way. The site is home to the world’s largest astronomical project, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a complex of telescopes that probes the mysteries of the universe.
Between stars and history
The images captured in the video highlight the contrast between the monumental engineering of the early 20th century and the untouched nature of the desert. The first plant, with its partially preserved structure, impresses with its size and resistance to time. The second, although in a more precarious state, continues to fascinate with its historical value.
Although many elements have been lost to looting and vandalism, the hydroelectric plants remain as symbols of a period of great economic and social transformation. And above them, the Atacama sky, eternal and untouched, bears witness to both the past and the present, connecting the history of humanity to the vast cosmos.
With its industrial relics and incomparable landscapes, Atacama is not just a desert: it is an open-air museum and an invitation to explore the stars.
