Framed by the beautiful colonial chapel of Tomarapi, the cloud wreathed Sajama volcano rises to 21,463 feet/ 6542 m, the highest point in Bolivia and a major peak of the western wall of the Andes. The village of Tomarapi at 14,000' / 4300 m provides an excellent base for short trips into the surrounding Sajama National Park, rich in unique biodiversity including the Queñoa De Altura trees (Polylepis tarapacana) that grow on the slopes of Sajama, vicuñas (a camelid animal related to the domesticated llama), and rheas (flightless birds). The human cultural history is also important, with Inca ruins on the slopes of the Sajama, numerous chullpas (structures housing the mummified bodies of the noble persons of the Ayamara culture, thought to have contributed to the "dia de los muertos" tradition of Latin America), and the chapel shown here which dates as far back to the 17th century, renovated in 2010 with support from the U.S. embassy in Bolivia. The climatic history of the tropical Andes was reconstructed using ice cores collected from glaciers on the summit of Sajama by Lonnie Thompson of the Ohio State University.
We just returned from 2 weeks in Bolivia, joining Peter Boehringer www.fourcorners.photography to enjoy the vast high landscapes of the Altiplano. More photos to follow over the next few weeks.
Tags: Sajama Sajama National Park Tomarapi Tomarapi Chapel Bolivia Altiplano sunrise volcano WPDObjects
© All Rights Reserved
Native Ayamara herders and their dogs march a group of llamas across a hillside while the sun sets in front of them. Pastoral herding of llamas is an ancient tradition in Bolivia and a mainstay of the rural economy along with quinoa cultivation. The animals are shorn for their fur which is more coarse than their alpaca cousins, and used for blankets and some clothing items. Note the woman on the right is carrying branches in her satchel, presumably for fuel.
Thanks to Peter Böhringer for suggesting the composition.
Tags: Bolivia llamas backlighting fuzzy herders Ayamara Altiplano
© All Rights Reserved
Volcanoes Pomarate (r, 20,610 feet/ 6281 m) and Parinacota (l, 20,827 feet/ 6348 m) provide the backdrop for a llama pasture and small group of dwellings in Sajama National Park, Bolivia. The twin "stratovolcanoes" (conical volcanoes composed of multiple layers of hardened lava, ash and tephra) straddle the Bolivian - Chilean border. The volcanoes formed during the Pleistocene (2.5 million- 12,000 years ago), and have experienced multiple eruptions, the latest 200 years ago. While the rainy season was waning, the daily cycle of cloud buildup and periodic rain was still apparent.
The huts are constructed of native materials- adobe (mud and grass bricks)- note the stack drying between the two huts on the right) and thatched puna grass roofs.
Tags: Bolivia altiplano Sajama National Park Nevados de Payachata Pomarate Parinacota volcanoes llamas cumulus clouds puna grassland
© All Rights Reserved
Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) are one of four species of South American mammals in the camel family, the others being their wild cousins the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) and the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), and their domesticated cousin the llama (Lama glama). Alpacas are entirely domesticated, with no herds in the wild. In the Andes (shown here in Bolivia) they are found at elevations from 3,500 m (11,500 ft) to 5,000 m (16,000 ft). Their wool is prized for its soft texture.
Many of the alpacas and llamas we saw grazing in the altiplano were adorned with yarn markings on their ears or backs, though few were as elegant as this alpaca's ear markings. I suspect it's a form of "branding" marking ownership and possibly some history to the animal.
Like goats alpaca and other camelids have elongated oval pupils, and some, like the one shown here, have bright blue eyes.
Tags: Alpaca Vicugna pacos Bolivia Sajama National Park altiplano
© All Rights Reserved
Scattered throughout the Altiplano are rectangular or circular structures called chullpas, which contain the mummified remains of noblepersons of the Ayamara culture, along with some of their personal belongings. The Ayamara tradition was to periodically bring offerings to the Chullpas and celebrate the dead, a custom that is thought to have influenced the Dia de los Muertos tradition of today. The entrances to the chullpas always face east toward the rising sun. The construction materials are native rock or adobe bricks. Most chullpas have been thoroughly ransacked for valuable archeological treasure, with only scattered bones remaining, providing a basis for "humerus" jokes by gringo MD tourists.
These chullpas are part of the "Chullpas Policromas" or multicolored chullpas complex near the Bolivian-Chilean border. They are relatively young, built between 1210 and 1380. The colors are amazingly well preserved due to coloration of the entire brick used to construct them. Partial restoration of this site was done between 2005-2009. The significance of the shape of the openings, and the holes above them is uncertain.
The light was less than great for photographing the chullpas, but our stay here was brief. Getting to this site required driving through rivers deeper than the height of the exhaust pipes of our 25 year old rented SUVs, and digging one of the vehicles out of a muddy flooded road: overlanding at its best ;-)
Tags: Chullpas tombs Bolivia Ayamara cumulus overlanding
© All Rights Reserved