this is a male Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, these little birds are endemic to the Altiplano
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viscachas sport extremely long whiskers
this cutie starts off the day with a quick beauty nap
nearby we find the remains of a viscuna that obviously did not make it
the rocks are home to several viscachas that seem not impressed by the nice views
testing the waters, yes, solidly frozen indeed!
a simple footbridge leads to the hotsprings
we return to Route 11 to inspect the hotsprings on the other side of the road
the yareta plant grows above 3000 meters and can live for thousands of years
10.000 years ago hunter-gatherers used this cave for shelter. Their fires blackened the ceiling
Las Cuevas

Las Cuevas is a small area within Lauca National Park, some 20 kms east of Putre. Here a rock formation protrudes from the fertile wetlands. 

Located at altitudes of 4400 meters, Las Cuevas features a prehistoric rock shelter, a thermal hot spring and fantastic views.

Prehistoric hunter-gatherers frequented this location as early as 9500 years BP, as indicated by a smoke charred cave and  finds like arrowheads and fire pits. 
Archeologists even found a shark tooth, suggesting a link with the Chinchorro culture that evolved from early fishing communities near Arica, a full 150 km to the west.

Las Cuevas is home to the rabbit-like Viscacha that feeds on peat in the nearby wetlands and shelters in and on the rocks.

The hot spring spouts water of 31 C that fills a small outdoor pool where you can take a dip. But as the water has a high arsenic and boron content, bathing here may actually have an age reducing effect.

On a cold morning in July 2011 we visited Las Cuevas, inspected the cave and hot spring, enjoyed the fantastic panoramas and watched several Viscachas dozing in the morning sun.

 

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on the footpath to the caves we stop for a nice early morning view
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these fertile wetlands are called bofedales and are typical for the Andean Altiplano
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viscachas are not related to rabbits but a nice example of convergent evolution
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up on a hill we spot a small herd of viscunas, one is keeping a wary eye on us
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this very basic construction covers the hot spring source. There are no bathers today...
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