Cerro Dragón, Nature reserve in Iquique, Chile.
Santuario de la Naturaleza Cerro Dragón is a nature reserve near the Pacific coast that protects one of the world's largest coastal sand dunes. The dune rises prominently above the surrounding urban area and creates a dramatic contrast with the city below.
The sanctuary was established to protect a rare coastal dune ecosystem found nowhere else in the region. Its designation helped prevent further destruction from urban expansion.
Local environmental organizations conduct educational programs at the sanctuary to inform visitors about the conservation needs of this natural monument.
Visitors can explore the area during daylight and evening hours, with early morning being ideal for experiencing the quiet desert landscape. Bring water and sun protection, as the dune offers little shelter from direct exposure.
The dune is striking because it no longer receives fresh sand from coastal winds, yet remains one of the world's largest examples of its kind. This stillness makes it a unique record of how such formations can become locked in place.
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