Pali-Aike National Park, National park in Magallanes Province, Chile.
Pali-Aike National Park is a reserve in southern Chile covering thousands of hectares shaped by volcanic activity. The park features dark lava fields, crater depressions, and cave systems scattered across the open steppe landscape.
People made their home here thousands of years before Europeans arrived, with early inhabitants leaving behind remains in cave sites across the area. Archaeological work revealed evidence of settlement stretching back over 8000 years into the past.
The name comes from the Aonikenk people who lived here long ago, meaning 'Desolate Place' in their language. Walking through the barren landscape, you understand why they chose this name for the windswept terrain.
You need a sturdy four-wheel-drive vehicle to reach the park via unpaved roads from Punta Arenas, making advance planning necessary. The terrain is rough and the area remote, so preparing for difficult driving conditions and variable weather is important.
The Morada del Diablo crater stands out for its otherworldly landscape that resembles the moon's surface, complete with rugged crater walls. Few visitors expect to find such a dramatic geological feature in this remote corner of South America.
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