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The
Quebrada
Botija
This valley is
located in the north
of Chile, between
Taltal and
Antofagasta, in the
coastal part of the
Atacama Desert.
This valley provides
access to the Botija
peak, culminating
at 1100 meters.
Mythic for the
Copiapoa
enthusiasts, it
shelters at least 5
species of this
genus, including 2
endemic ones.
The
Quebrada
Botija
The access to
the Quebrada
is from the
Road 1, which
is in fact a
track.
We meet the
first Copiapoa
on the beach.
The
Quebrada
Botija
A few
Copiapoa
atacamensis,
but relatively
few.
The
Quebrada
Botija
Mainly Copiapoa
ahremephiana.
This species can
only be found on
the beach and at
the entrance of the
valley.
The
Quebrada
Botija
At the entrance
of the valley,
they are hung
on the rock
walls.
The
Quebrada
Botija
Small plants are
not necessarily
young plants.
Some parts,
during difficult
times, may die,
leaving only a
few heads alive.
New ones may
be reformed…
or not.
The
Quebrada
Botija
An
exceptional
cristated
specimen.
The
Quebrada
Botija
The access to
the valley is
now a bad
track created
by diggers a
dozen years
ago.
The
Quebrada
Botija
When I said
a bad
track…
The
Quebrada
Botija
After the rains,
the valley can
be well
flowered.
Here are some
Alstroemeria.
The
Quebrada
Botija
In some
places,
there are
some
Eulychnia
iquiquensis
(or
taltalensis),
and some
Euphorbia
lactiflua
(backwards,
in the top
right
corner).
The
Quebrada
Botija
A venerable
Euphorbia
lactiflua
The
Quebrada
Botija
A bonsaï
Euphorbia
lactiflua, along
with an Eriosyce
paucicostata
(floccosa)….
And a tiny
Copiapoa
atacamensis
(probably).
The
Quebrada
Botija
Eriosyce
paucicostata
The
Quebrada
Botija
Some
Copiapoa
atacamensis….
Nice ones….
But skinny
ones compared
to those we will
see later.
The
Quebrada
Botija
Quickly, some
Copiapoa
decorticans
appear and
replace the
Copiapoa
ahremephiana,
beyond a small
area where they
live together.
The
Quebrada
Botija
Copiapoa
decorticans,
described in
2002, is
endemic to this
part of the
valley.
Closer to the
sea, there is
none.
Higher in the
valley, there is
none as well.
The
Quebrada
Botija
Its name
comes from its
tendency to dry
at the base of
the stem,
revealing the
sap conductor
wood.
The
Quebrada
Botija
During rainy
years, it flowers
quite well.
The
Quebrada
Botija
…. Which is a
tasty meal for
insects …
The
Quebrada
Botija
Around 300m
in altitude, the
valley oriented
to the east
splits in two
parts. One
going to the
north (picture),
and the other
one to the
south.
On the west
side, where
grows
Copiapoa
decorticans, it
is granit.
The
Quebrada
Botija
On the east
side, where the
ground is
black, grows
Copiapoa
solaris.
The
demarcation
line is only a
few meters
wide.
The
Quebrada
Botija
Copiapoa
solaris, some
are in good
health...
The
Quebrada
Botija
….but some
others suffered
over the
years… and
suffered from
the drought.
The
Quebrada
Botija
The east part
of the valley.
The one we will
take to climb to
the Botija peak.
The
Quebrada
Botija
Firstly, the track
raises slowly,
then gradually,
as the valley
narrows,
becomes
steeper and
steeper… but
nothing
insurmountable.
Around 700m
high, Senecio
Botijae.
An endemic
species again.
Backwards, a
Nolana, a
genus of wide
variety and
omnipresent in
Chile.
A Nolana
again.
One may even
find some
violets : Viola
polypoda.
Of course,
some Eriosyce
paucicostata.
Some are more
floccosa than
other ones.
Of course,
some
Copiapoa
atacamensis.
And of course,
some
Copiapoa
solaris.
Then we arrive
to the pass
separating the
Qda Botija from
the Qda Izcuña.
The fog
following us
from the
morning is
particularly
dense… But we
feel that the sun
is close.
There, at the
feet of the
rocks, stands a
rather difficult to
identify
Copiapoa.
It does not look
like Copiapoa
varispinata
which grows
lower in the Qda
Izcuna. Neither
to Copiapoa
humilis.
Rudolf Schulz
talks about
Copiapoa
paposoensis,
possibly…
Or maybe a
non yet
described
species…
It is now time to
begin climbing
the Botija peak,
stricly speaking,
walking amidst
Copiapoa
atacamensis
and solaris.
But it is worth
looking
backwards from
time to time…
The clusters of
Copiapoa
atacamensis
and solaris take
incredible
proportions.
A few Eulychnia
bring some
verticality in all
of these
cushions.
There are also
some Oxalis.
There are
obviously
several species.
But impossible
to find any
literature about
it.
Cumulopuntia
leucophaea,
formerly also
called
Cumulopuntia
sphaerica or
berteri (or
berteroi).
This species
is
omnipresent
in a big part
of Chile, but
is barely so
photogenic
…..
The Eriosyce
are free
flowering here,
while lower in
altitude we have
seen no flowers
at all.
The fog was
discreet during
our climbing,
but strongly
returns when
we arrive on the
ridge that leads
to the peak.
At the risk of
getting lost.
ut all at once :
clear blue sky !
And there…
Breathtaking
landscapes.
We could even
miss the cacti !
But what can
we see in the
background, at
the top of the
mountain?
It simply is the
Cerro Paranal,
and at its top
(2600m) the
European
Southern
Observatory
with the VLT,
around twenty
kilometers far.
But it would be
a pity not
having a look
to the cacti.
Here is a
beautiful
Copiapoa
solaris, along
with a small
Copiapoa
atacamensis
and
surrounded by
several Nolana.
Guess what !
Some
Copiapoa
solaris !
Copiapoa
solaris,
flowering….
But that is not
necessarily
why we like
them…
Copiapoa
atacamensis
flowering as
well
Copiapoa
atacamensis
and Eulychnia
(flowering) on
the left in the
background.
Copiapoa
atacamensis
…. a "young"
specimen….
Eulychnia
iquiquensis (or
whatever its
name is)
flowering.
Flowers which are a
tasty meal for
hummingbirds…
On the other hand,
they have probably
little else to eat…
The peak is
close, the slope
eases.
Eulychnia and
Copiapoa are
still there,
along with
other plants.
Note the little
white cushions.
These are
Cylindropuntia
tunicata (?).
The question
is, how this
north american
plant got lost in
this place?
One can also
find a few rare
but magnificent
Trichocereus
deserticola.
Finally the top !
1100m.
This was a nice
walk of around
twenty
kilometers
round trip from
the beach that
filled the entire
day.
Arrived to the
top, the only
option is to go
down.
This guanaco
shows us the
way.