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Stage 12 - Thursday 15 January 2009 | Fiambala > La Rioja

  • Connection  4 km
  • Special 253 km
  • Connection 261 km

Travel diary

Judith Tomaselli, a motor-sports journalist, has traveled throughout this last year through the regions visited by the Dakar. Check out the official site for here impressions and photos.

  • The grey dune of Saujil

    /PHOTOS/DAK/2009/carnetderoute/1200-01.jpg

    From the grey dune of Saujil – which means “where the light is born” in Quechua – situated at 1,600 meters in altitude, to the white dunes of Tatón, the region of Fiambalá and Tinogasta reserves plenty of surprises and encounters.

    The grey dune of Saujil

  • The white dunes of Tatón

    /PHOTOS/DAK/2009/carnetderoute/1200-02.jpg

    From the grey dune of Saujil – which means “where the light is born” in Quechua – situated at 1,600 meters in altitude, to the white dunes of Tatón, the region of Fiambalá and Tinogasta reserves plenty of surprises and encounters.

    The white dunes of Tatón

  • Wild horses

    /PHOTOS/DAK/2009/carnetderoute/1200-03.jpg

    On the road to La Rioja, it is not rare to see herds of wild horses…

    Wild horses

  • The old railway

    /PHOTOS/DAK/2009/carnetderoute/1200-04.jpg

    The old railway runs alongside the road, giving a feeling of the Far West…

    The old railway

  • Chilecito

    /PHOTOS/DAK/2009/carnetderoute/1200-05.jpg

    The small mining town of Chilecito boasts the magnificent backdrop of the Sierra Famatina and its summit, at 6,250 meters high. This was the departure point for the wagons that took the men to the copper, gold and silver mines of La Mejicana, at around 4,700 meters in altitude.

    Chilecito

  • Parque Talampaya

    /PHOTOS/DAK/2009/carnetderoute/1200-06.jpg

    The Parque Talampaya dates from the Triassic era, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The red rock walls of this canyon are imposing and in a gulley, the echo repeats four times with incredible clarity. The rock artifacts left by the natives long ago lead us on a journey through the centuries…

    Parque Talampaya

  • Parque Ischigualasto

    /PHOTOS/DAK/2009/carnetderoute/1200-07.jpg

    In the Parque Ischigualasto, better known as the Valle de la Luna, the time, wind and water have carved out the brittle rock leaving weird and wonderful natural monuments.

La Rioja

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