The Giant hand "Mano de Desierto" in the Atacama Desert, Chile

Monday 27 June 2016

The Giant hand "Mano de Desierto" in the Atacama Desert, Chile

When driving on hot Chilean Atacama Desert (South America) in a way to meet all of a sudden a huge hand, it may appear the idea that there is a hallucination from lack of water and mercilessly scorching sun. It can be a long time to wipe his eyes and showering himself with water, but the giant's hand and disappears. Giant hand "Mano de Desierto" in the Atacama Desert, Chile. And it will not disappear because it is not a mirage. Maybe the giant, unable to bear the scorching sun, collapsed and died in the desert, and the sand by the wind giant fell asleep, leaving only the surface of the hand. It is a real object, but rather a sculpture created by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrasabalem.

hand of the desert created by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrasabalem

This concrete sculpture "Mano de Desierto" ( "Mano de Desierto") in height of 11 meters was built in 1992. 75 km from the city of Antofagasta, with the financial support of the corporation Corporacion Pro Antofagasta. The author has explained its meaning is this: it expresses how vulnerable and helpless people find themselves alone against the forces of nature. And in the Chilean Atacama Desert, which is considered the hot desert planet, Death Valley, where in addition to sand and sun for many kilometers there is nothing, not every one of those who dare to overcome her foot, will be able to survive. Therefore, going to the tour to explore the giant hand, take the road water, food and money from the sun. flickr/Leonardo Del Prete

Local attraction is so popular that its tourists and locals often decorated with paintings and graffiti by different inscriptions, but fortunately for her well looked after and all the inscriptions and drawings periodically washed.To get to the sculpture can be a part of tourist groups on passing cars, as well as a rental car. Monumental "Hand of the Desert" is located 75 km south of Antofagasta, near the legendary highway Pan-American Highway. On the outskirts of the city follow the road 26 or 28 to the intersection with the highway 5, which is part of the Pan-American Highway. "Hand of the Desert" is a couple of hundred meters from the road, so do not notice that an unusual sculpture of the penalty will be difficult.