Valle de la Luna desert landscape with eroded rock formations in Atacama Desert, Chile
The Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) in Chile's Atacama Desert displays dramatic eroded salt and clay formations under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
Read more about this photo
The driest desert on Earth
The Atacama Desert stretches across northern Chile, creating an otherworldly landscape that has drawn comparisons to Mars. This particular view from Valle de la Luna showcases millions of years of geological history carved by wind and rare water flows.
A landscape frozen in time The eroded salt formations and clay ridges create a maze of textures and earth tones, from pale whites to deep rust oranges. The extreme aridity has preserved these formations in remarkable detail, offering photographers and geologists alike a window into planetary processes.
Spot a mistake or location error? Let us know!
Photos from the day
