|
|
America -
Chile
|
Stretching between 54 and 18 degrees south, Chile is a land of extremes - from the ice-fields of Patagonia to the absolute desert of the Atacama. This study day will explore the geography, archaeology and history of the country and examine how the environment played such an important role in cultural development. We will discuss a number of archaeological sites from first settlement (> 10,000 yrs ago) in the far south through to outlying Inca outposts in the Atacama Desert. We will also discuss the impacts of the Spanish Conquest and the work of the early explorers from those following the Conquistadors through to Charles Darwin and his voyage on the Beagle. We will conclude with a brief discussion covering the moves toward independence and the political wrangling that led to the War of the Pacific and the creation of Chile's modern border.
Chile Land of Extremes - Episode 1: Riddle of the Atacama Desert
In the north of Chile there exists the driest place on earth - the Atacama desert. Deprived of any rain for millions of years, it is a stripped, elemental landscape devoid of any sign of life. Yet on the desert?s fringes there are some of the most productive areas for wildlife anywhere in the world. All that the sea can offer the parched land is a mysterious coastal fog which supplies just enough water to support a thin ribbon of life on the edge of the desert. Any water from the mountains never arrives, instead it evaporates in the scorching heat leaving behind huge pans of caustic salt. It is into the desert?s arid heart that one small species of gull unbelievably chooses to make its home. Defying phenomenal extremes of temperature and a complete absence of water, it alone brings up its young in perhaps this the most hostile place on earth. Why it should do this when surrounded by so much abundance, is yet another question posed by the Riddle of the Atacama.
Chile Land of Extremes - Episode 2: Forests of Defiance
In the south of Chile, the mighty Andes dominates life and landscape. Youthful by world standards, this mountain range is constantly being rent apart by massive volcanoes and huge earthquakes. It is into this battered landscape of continual catastrophe that a unique forest has evolved. Indigenous peoples, plants and the animals which all make their home in the depths of the forests are truly resilient in the face of the many catastrophes which continue to batter the region and have carved out successful lives over the years. But for those who rely on the forest, the latest catastrophe to threaten is indeed serious. The seemingly endless supply of timber has attracted greedy eyes and in the course of this century over half of the forest has disappeared. If they survive this, then they will truly be known as Forests of Defiance.
Chile Land of Extremes - Episode 3: Castaway Islands
The fictional Robinson Crusoe was based on the true story of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor marooned on an ancient volcanic archipelago 350 miles off the coast of Chile. Selkirk was by no means the first castaway; when the island first appeared above the waves, it provided the stage for the evolution of a unique cast of plants and animals. Whether washed up by the sea, borne by the wind or even carried by birds, whether it was by accident or design, all these castaways were faced by a stark choice - adapt or die. With their evolutionary potential unleashed they gave rise to numerous species found nowhere else in the world, ranging from giant daisies to copper coloured humming birds. But 400 years ago, this veritable paradise was threatened by a new arrival - Man. Native animals and plants are now hanging on so precariously that even the disappearance of one individual could push them over the edge to extinction. For unlike Alexander Selkirk, who was rescued, there is no where else to go for those who live on these Castaway Islands.
Chile Land of Extremes - Episode 4: To the End of the World
In the far south of Chile, the Andes which have overshadowed the whole country, finally descend into the sea breaking up into a myriad of islands fjords and channels. Here wildlife is in abundance, all well adapted to the cold windy weather at the foot of these mountains. In the shadow of the Andes, rheas and guanacos, geese and foxes abound watched over by predatory pumas and circling condors. And on the coasts, sea lions, penguins and seabirds thrive in waters that are blasted by storms that have raced non-stop round the bottom of the world. These all provided the basis for the existence of nomadic indigenous peoples, who adapted well to their harsh surroundings, but couldn?t cope with the arrival of Western civilization. There is little to show for their ten thousand years of existence; the people themselves are on the verge of disappearing forever, the lands where they once roamed given over to the production of sheep. And the waters where they once sailed, now the preserve of oil rigs and naval vessels; the only twentieth century institutions capable of operating in this land at the bottom of the world. This is the End of the World.
 |
|
|
Report dead link
If you spot a dead link on this site, or a not working video, let us know and report it overhere..... Thanks!
Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER. All the videos on this site are hosted on Google, Guba, VEOH and YouTube. Linking to these videos was not possible without the help from the excellent FLV-software from Jeroen Wijering.
About
Maza is born in the Netherlands about 40 years ago and has studied economics in the 90's. He is very much a travel buff. He has also a hughe intrest in science and astronomy. At the moment he is working for the local municipality. If you like you can contact him at info @ mazalien.com.© Mazalien 1999 - 2010
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
