Jack Dykinga / Valle de la Luna, The Codillera de Sal, formed by layer upon layer of salt, sand and clay, creating strata that buckled with earth's crust and lined with sand dunes. Atacama Desert, Chile. April 2009

Mark Bowler / Large flock of roosting Grey gulls (Leucophaeus modestus) on beach with coastal fog over the Atacama Desert on the Peruvian coast, Paracas National Park, Peru.

Tui De Roy / The rainless coast of the Atacama Desert is bordered by rich Humboldt Current upwelling, Paracas National Reserve, Peru

Tui De Roy / Atacama Desert, weather beaten sea cliffs and Pacific Ocean, Paracas Peninsula, Peru

Pete Oxford / Antofagasta, Atacama Desert coastal landscape, Chile, South America

Pete Oxford / Atacama Desert, Chile, South America

Pete Oxford / Death Valley, Atacama Desert, Chile, South America

Oriol Alamany / Licancabur volcano and surrounding mountains reflected in waters of a severe flood caused by climate change. Los Flamencos National Reserve, Antofagasta , Chile. February 2019.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean avocet (Recurvirostra andina) juvenile, Salar Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean avocet (Recurvirostra andina) juvenile, Salar Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) and Andean avocet (Recurvirostra andina) taking off, Salar d'Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus) in flight, Salar d'Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean flamingos (Phoenicoparrus andinus) feeding in habitat, Salar d'Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Walkers on the Salar of Atacama, Chile. September 2018.

Daniel Heuclin / Puna Plover (Charadrius alticola) foraging, Salar Atacama. Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) group taking off, Salar d'Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) group taking off, Salar d'Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) in flight, Salar d'Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus) and Andean avocet (Recurvirostra andina) taking off, Salar d'Atacama, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) basking on salt deposit. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) emerging from water in salt flat. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) basking on salt deposit. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani). Salar de Atacama, Chile. September.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) in salt flat. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) amongst salt covered stones. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) basking under blue sky, portrait. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September. Controlled conditions.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) basking on salt deposit under blue sky. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September. Controlled conditions.

Daniel Heuclin / Fabian's lizard (Liolaemus fabiani) in salt flat surrounded by flies. Salar de Atacama, Chile. September.

Jeff Vanuga / James's flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), flock standing in saline Laguna Colorada, Altiplano Desert. Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Andean Plateau, Bolivia.

Jeff Vanuga / James's flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), flock standing in saline Laguna Colorada, Altiplano Desert. Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Andean Plateau, Bolivia.

Jeff Vanuga / Tourists visiting the Salar de Uyuni salt flat, Atacama Desert, Altiplano / Andean Plateau, Daniel Campos Province, Bolivia. March 2017.

Jeff Vanuga / Salar de Uyuni salt flat, Atacama Desert, Altiplano / Andean Plateau. Daniel Campos Province, Bolivia. March 2017.

Jeff Vanuga / Salar de Uyuni salt flat, Atacama Desert, Altiplano / Andean Plateau. Potosi, Bolivia. March 2017.

Jeff Vanuga / Salar de Uyuni salt flat, Atacama Desert, Altiplano / Andean Plateau. Daniel Campos Province, Potosi, Bolivia. March 2017.

Jeff Vanuga / Rock Tree / Arbol de Piedra, an isolated rock formation, Siloli Desert, Altiplano / Andean Plateau. Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, Sur Lipez Province, Bolivia. March 2017.

Christophe Courteau / Lake Miniques and Miniques volcano on the altiplano, Atacama Desert, 4137 m above sea level, Chile. Digital Stitched Panorama.

Christophe Courteau / Young Lamas in pasture (Lama glama) altiplano of Atacama Desert, Chile.

Christophe Courteau / Wet salt pan in the Atacama Desert, elevation of 2311m above sea level, Chile

Christophe Courteau / Apacheta / Apachita - a stone cairn in the Andes, a little pile of rocks built along the trail in the high mountains with Licancabur volcano (5916 m above sea level) and Juriques volcano to the far ri...

Christophe Courteau / A salt river - temperatures are above 38 C, Valley of the Salt Cordillera, San Pedro de Atacama Area, Atacama Desert, Chile (elevation 2443 m above sea level)

Christophe Courteau / Ancient carvings of a Puma on rock face, Quebrada de la Kezala, Atacama Region, Chile.

Christophe Courteau / Ancient carvings of a Puma on rock face, Quebrada de la Kezala, Atacama Region, Chile.

Christophe Courteau / Apacheta / Apachita - a stone cairn in the Andes, a little pile of rocks built along the trail in the high mountains with Licancabur volcano (5916 m above sea level) and Juriques volcano to the far ri...

Christophe Courteau / Altiplano landscape with Cathedral of the Salar of Tara, Natural Reserve of Los Flamencos, Aguas Calientes, Atacama Desert, Chile, elevation 4430 m above sea level.

Merryn Thomas / View of Licancabur volcano from Valle de la Luna. Near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Salar de Atatcama. December 2013.

Merryn Thomas / Amphitheatre in Valle de la Luna, near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Salar de Atatcama. December 2013.

Merryn Thomas / Strata in the Valle de la Luna, near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Salar de Atatcama. December 2013.

Merryn Thomas / Cactus on the coast of Fish Island, Salar de Uyuni salt flats, Atacama Desert, Bolivia. December 2013.

Merryn Thomas / Harvesting salt on Salar de Uyuni salt flats, Atacama Desert, Bolivia. December 2013.

Merryn Thomas / Man in vehicle, photographing Salar de Uyuni salt flats, Atacama Desert, Bolivia. February 2014.

Chris Mattison / Road sign promoting conservation of the rare Candelabra cactus, (Browningia candelaris) Atacama Desert, Chile.

Chris Mattison / Cracked mud abstract, Atacama, Chile.

Chris Mattison / Cracked mud abstract, Atacama, Chile.

Chris Mattison / Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) Pan de Azudar National Park, Atacama Desert, Chile.

Chris Mattison / Band-tailed gull (Larus belcheri) in non-breeding plumage, Pan de Azucar National Park, Atacama, Chile.

Chris Mattison / Cactus flower (Eriosyce villosa) Atacama, Chile.

Chris Mattison / Candelabra cactus (Browningia candelaris) Lluta Valley, near Arica, Atacama Desert, Chile.

Daniel Heuclin / Geysers, El Tatio, Atacama, Chile, September 2009

Gavin Hellier / Los Flamencos National Reserve, the altiplano at an altitude of over 4000m looking over the salt lake Laguna de Tuyajto, Atacama Desert, Antofagasta Region, Norte Grande, Chile 2008

Gavin Hellier / Los Flamencos National Reserve, the altiplano at an altitude of over 4000m looking over the salt lake Laguna de Tuyajto, Atacama Desert, Antofagasta Region, Norte Grande, Chile 2008

Gavin Hellier / Los Flamencos National Reserve, the altiplano at an altitude of over 4000m looking over the salt lake Laguna de Tuyajto, Atacama Desert, Antofagasta Region, Norte Grande, Chile, 2008

Gavin Hellier / Tourists waiting for the full moon to rise over the Valle de la Luna / Valley of the Moon, Atacama Desert, Norte Grande, Chile, 2008

David Noton / Valle de la Luna at dawn, near San Pedro, Atacama Desert, northern Chile, South America

David Noton / The road to Socaire, Atacama Desert, northern Chile, South America

Daniel Heuclin / Saltflat Lizard (Liolaemus fabiani). Atacama, Chile.

Jack Dykinga / Tatio Geysers in early morning light, with steam rising from scalding hot water, coloured from mineral deposits. Atacama, Chile. April 2009

Jack Dykinga / Flock of Chilean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) feeding, with the reflection of Andean volcanos in the heavily salted waters of this laguna, Atacama Desert, Los Flamencos National Reserve, Chile...

Jack Dykinga / Atacama Desert with mountains on horizon and heavily salted waters of laguna in foreground, Chile, April 2009

Jack Dykinga / Sunset light over the Atacama Desert with the Andean Mountain Range on the horizon with 6000 meter high volcanos. Near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, April 2009

Mark Bowler / Paracas National park, Peru Atacama Desert, Pacific Coast of Peru, August 2007

Mark Bowler / La Cathedral from the inside, just before its collapse in the 2007 Earthquake, where the Atacama desert meets the Pacific Ocean, Paracas National Park, near Pisco, Ica, Peru, June 2007

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Chilean flamingos {Phoenicopterus chilensis} taking off from lake, Salar de Atacama, Chile

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Puna plover {Charadrius alticola} female, Salar de Atacama, Chile

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Puna plover {Charadrius alticola} male, with reflection in water, Salar de Atacama, Chile

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Puna plover {Charadrius alticola} male, Salar de Atacama, Chile

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Three Andean avocet {Recurvirostra andina} wading in shallow water, Solar de Atacama, Chile

Theo Allofs / Hexagons in dry salt lake at sunset, Salar de Atacama, Chile

Theo Allofs / Salt lake Salar de Atacama, the largest salt lake in Chile

Theo Allofs / Drought patterns in dry creek bed in Atacama Desert, Chile

PREMAPHOTOS / Atacama sand lizard {Liolaemus atacamensis} Atacama Desert, Chile

David Noton / The Atacama Desert, Valle de la Luna, nr San Pedro de Atacame, Atacama, Chile

David Noton / The Val de Lunar, nr San Pedro, Atacama Desert, Chile

David Noton / Solitary figure trekking in the desert, Atacama Desert, Chile

David Noton / Solitary figure trekking on ridge, Valle de la Luna, nr San Pedro, Atacama Desert, Chile

David Noton / Valle du la Luna, nr Sand Pedro de Atacama, Atacama Desert, Chile

David Noton / The road to Socaire, Atacama Desert, northern Chile

David Noton / The Atacama Desert, Valle de la Luna, nr San Pedro de Atacama, Atacama, Chile

David Noton / Car on road through Valle du la Luna, nr Sand Pedro de Atacama, Atacama Desert, Chile

Barrie Britton / Atacama Desert, Chile, c 2004

Barrie Britton / Guanaco {Lama guanicoe} and Cacti on the Atacama Desert, Chile, c 2004

Barrie Britton / Guanaco {Lama guanicoe} on the Atacama Desert, Chile, c 2004

Barrie Britton / Cacti on the Atacama Desert, Chile, c 2004

Barrie Britton / Sunset over coastal fog on the Atacama Desert, Chile, c 2004

Barrie Britton / Fog dew and lichen on Cactus spines, Atacama Desert, Chile, c 2004

RHONDA KLEVANSKY / Cameraman Kevin Flay filming lizard in Salar de Atacama, Chile for BBC series Andes to Amazon

RHONDA KLEVANSKY / Iguanid on saltmarsh {Liolaemus fabiani} feeds on saltflies, Atacama desert, San Pedro, Chile