Dragon Hill
Chile
Local Pick
At a glance
Ideal for
ExpatsMature TravellersFor HerCouples
Type
Sightseeing ToursNature & Adventure ToursOff the beaten track
Features
CityLively AtmosphereNatureOff The Beaten Path
Price
$$$$ Affordable
Cerro Dragon or The Dragon Hill is a massive dune that is approximately four kilometers long, situated nearby the coast of the city of Iquique in Chile. Cerro Dragons hill is varying in height between 150 to 500 meters.
The hill is the largest urban dune in the world; only the dunes of the Sahara are higher. The dune is located on a slender rocky ledge above a cliff 500 feet high that forms a natural barrier to the sea.
It is thought that the Dragon Hill was created more than 20,000 years ago during the last ice age when the sea was out by a further 100 meters, revealing the shoreline to erosion and deposition by the wind. Nowadays, the dune represents one of the most distinguishing landscapes of Iquique and can be seen from throughout the city.
Though, in 2005, Dragon Hill was designated a Nature Sanctuary to protect the geological feature from human encroachment, particularly by urban developers. Unluckily, the designation has had a diminutive effect. Unfortunately, the city dwellers are using the place to dump their garbage. The place is also frequented particularly by Para-gliders and sandboarding lovers.
The hill is the largest urban dune in the world; only the dunes of the Sahara are higher. The dune is located on a slender rocky ledge above a cliff 500 feet high that forms a natural barrier to the sea.
It is thought that the Dragon Hill was created more than 20,000 years ago during the last ice age when the sea was out by a further 100 meters, revealing the shoreline to erosion and deposition by the wind. Nowadays, the dune represents one of the most distinguishing landscapes of Iquique and can be seen from throughout the city.
Though, in 2005, Dragon Hill was designated a Nature Sanctuary to protect the geological feature from human encroachment, particularly by urban developers. Unluckily, the designation has had a diminutive effect. Unfortunately, the city dwellers are using the place to dump their garbage. The place is also frequented particularly by Para-gliders and sandboarding lovers.
