Snow pinnacles (distance) called neve penitentes in the high altitude desert of Puna de Atacama, Chile. They are formed in shallow valleys by the accu

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Snow pinnacles (distance) called neve penitentes in the high altitude desert of Puna de Atacama, Chile. They are formed in shallow valleys by the accumulation of winter snow, some rising to over 6 metres high. They are gradually eroded by the summer sun & collapse. Snow pinnacles form on the higher slopes of the Atacama at about 5200 metres & above. The desert is a wilderness of rocks, sand & gravel with sparse or non-existant vegetation. eroded by the summer sun. The Atacama desert is a wilderness of rocks, sand & gravel with sparse or non-existant vegetation.

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Size: 5358px × 3560px
Photo credit: © SIMON FRASER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: altitude, atacama, chile, de, desert, environment, geography, high, landscape, neve, penitente, pinnacle, puna, snow