Exploring Laguna Cejar: A Natural Wonder in the Atacama Desert - interactive 360-degree video
If you are viewing this on a mobile device, please turn to LANDSCAPE position. Drag the view on the screen with your finger (or move the device around) and you will see everything all around you – even what’s behind or on the ground. Viewing on a PC? Use the mouse to drag the view anywhere you want to see. If you have a VR viewer (goggles) you will be fully immersed. Better than IMAX! SUGGESTION: see the video again, change the viewing angles. You will discover new things!
IMPORTANT! Please click on the "Watch on YouTube" link for best viewing. The embedded small screen is inadequate for interactive 360 degree videos.
To see the same video in conventional screen format (non 360-degree video)
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- If you’d like to research or purchase a 360-degree camera, here’s a link to a 360-degree camera like the one I used to produce my videos. I have nothing but good things to say about my camera (which I purchased from the same website as the link above).
The Formation of Laguna Cejar
- Laguna Cejar is an exceptional natural feature in the Atacama Desert, formed during the Pleistocene epoch. Tectonic activity over millions of years led to land subsidence and the formation of basins, setting the stage for the lagoon. Remarkably, the area’s general parameters have remained consistent for hundreds of millions of years, despite changes in water level and elevation.
- As tectonic plates shifted, depressions accumulated scarce rainfall and sediments, eventually forming the lagoon. Sedimentation—the deposition of minerals and organic materials—influenced its characteristics, with rich halite deposits forming around the lagoon and indicating a saline environment.
- These halite deposits are responsible for the lagoon’s striking turquoise and blue hues. Unlike most hyper-salty lakes where thriving bacteria create colored dyes, the harsh conditions of the Atacama Desert drive these bacteria underground. This leaves the water free of bacterial dyes, allowing the mineral deposits to reflect light in their full glory, resulting in the unique and vibrant shades of turquoise.
Surrounding Volcanoes and Their Influence
- The stunning landscape surrounding Laguna Cejar is shaped by prominent volcanoes, primarily Licancabur and Lascar. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these peaks play a crucial role in the region’s ecological and geological dynamics, influencing soil fertility and water quality. The area’s rich mineral deposits stem from ancient volcanic activity that has continually fed the lagoon with essential minerals for millennia.
- Licancabur, towering at 5,916 meters, is one of the Atacama Desert’s most recognized volcanoes. Its past eruptions, evidenced by lava flows and ash deposits, contributed to the diverse mineral composition of local water bodies like Laguna Cejar. Lascar is an active stratovolcano that has erupted multiple times, shaping the landscape and modifying the region’s ecological balance.
- The mineral-rich waters of Laguna Cejar, which are known for their remarkable buoyancy due to high salinity, are a direct result of these volcanic interactions, extending their influence into the lagoon’s ecosystem.
Getting to Laguna Cejar from San Pedro de Atacama
Reaching Laguna Cejar from San Pedro de Atacama offers stunning views. There are several transportation options.
Guided tours are popular, including transport and a guide, and can be booked locally. Costs typically range from $40 to $100 per person.
Public buses are more economical, costing $10 to $20 round-trip for the 30- to 45-minute journey. Schedules can be limited, so check the timetable in advance.
Car rentals start around $50 per day plus fuel, allowing for flexible exploration. It is best to visit in the late afternoon to appreciate the colors and catch the sunset.
Bring essentials such as sunglasses, water, sunscreen, and appropriate clothing for varying temperatures.
Swimming in Laguna Cejar: What to Expect
- Swimming in Laguna Cejar offers an extraordinary and unforgettable experience, marked by the lagoon’s high salinity, which creates a unique ultra-buoyant environment. You will float effortlessly!
- Before immersing yourself in this natural wonder, be aware of essential safety measures. Exercise caution while entering the water; no diving or vigorous swimming is allowed, and breaststroke is difficult and can lead to disorientation. Stick strictly to the designated swimming areas and local guidelines to ensure safety and preserve this fragile ecosystem.
- The best time to swim is during the warmer months (late spring to early autumn), when air temperatures range from 70°F to 90°F (21°C to 32°C). Water temperatures are cool but refreshing, though they are near freezing in winter.
- There are duration restrictions; the maximum allowed time in the water was 20 minutes when I visited, which is strictly enforced. Avoid submerging your head, as the high salinity can irritate the eyes and throat.
- Here are a few more images, illustrating the quiet immensity of the place, and the striking colors and shapes.
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