The town of Ayquina is located 74 kms. northeast of Calama, at 3000
m.a.s.l, to the north of San Pedro de Atacama. A pleasant and
recommended day trip.
It is notable for its beautiful farming terraces that date from the
period of Inca domination. Nowadays this area forms part of the
proposed list given by the Chilean Government to UNESCO to be World
Heritage Site.
Ayquina stands out as an important point of religious worship and
every 7th and 8th of September receives over 40 thousand people to
celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe, the second largest festivity in the
north of Chile just after the Tirana. Both stem from the junction of
pagan culture with  Christianity, in a mixture of ancient Andean beliefs
with Catholicism brought by the Spanish conquerors.
Since the last day of August, residents of the Loa province, and also members of the rest of the Andean world, which
includes Northern Chile, southern Peru, Bolivia and northern
Argentina, begin to arrive to the town of Salado River bed to celebrate a
century old tradition that brings together the descendants of the
settlers led by people of the Loa. The climax is lived on the 7th
and 8th in which regional authorities are present to open the ceremonies at
the church. 20 bands of bronze and 47 groups of religious dances
perform continuously for 72 hours filling the gorge of Ayquina with
color and  music paying tribute to the local Saint, the Virgin Mary, affectionately called
the “Chinita” of Ayquina.
We invite all of our readers to visit next
year Ayquina during this religious festival, the largest in the
region.

El poblado de Ayquina se encuentra a 74 kms. al noreste de Calama, a 3000 m.s.n.m y al norte de San Pedro de Atacama. Un precioso y recomendable paseo por el día.
Se destaca por la belleza de sus terrazas de cultivo que datan de la época de influencia inca en la zona y que forman parte de la lista tentativa presentada por el Gobierno de Chile a la UNESCO a ser Patrimonio de la Humanidad.
Ayquina se destaca por ser un importante punto de culto ya que cada 7 y 8 de septiembre recibe a mas de 40 mil personas para celebrar a la Virgen de Guadalupe, en la segunda fiesta del norte grande en rango de importancia y grandeza, luego de la Tirana. Ambas se originan en el cruce de lo pagano con lo cristiano, es decir, una mezcla de las creencias andinas con la religión católica inculcada por los conquistadores españoles.
Desde el último día de agosto numerosos pobladores de la provincia del Loa, en su gran mayoría, y también miembros del resto del mundo andino, el cual incluye el norte grande de Chile, sur de Perú, Bolivia y norte de Argentina, comienzan a llegar al poblado de la cuenca del Río Salado para celebrar una tradición centenaria que reúne a los descendientes de los pobladores que dieron origen a los pueblos atacameños. El climax se vive los días 7 y 8 de septiembre, en donde se hacen presentes autoridades regionales y eclesiásticas para presidir las fiestas. 20 bandas de bronce y 47 grupos de bailes religiosos se suceden continuamente durante 72 horas llenando de color y música la quebrada de Ayquina rindiendo homenaje a su patrona, la cariñosamente llamada la Chinita de Ayquina.
Queda extendida desde ya a todos ustedes lectores la invitación para el próximo año a visitar Ayquina durante esta fiesta religiosa, la mas importante de la región.

Todos los países necesitan al menos una ciudad Ecológicamente diseñada. Alemania tiene su ECO CITY Hamburg, Gran Bretaña Hanham Hall, Suecia Super Sustainable City, España tiene Logroño Montecorvo Eco-City. Y en Korea del Sur por lo visto habrán dos! Una de ellas es Songdo International Business District o Songdo IBD. Esta nueva eco-ciudad va a ser impresionante con su lista de eco-credenciales, espacios de gran belleza y parques, techos verdes, diseño de energía solar pasiva y más de 120 edificios construidos bajo las condiciones LEED.

Songdo IBD, diseñado por Kohn Pedersen Fox, está ubicado en Incheon, en Korea del Sur, cubriendo 1.500 hectáreas. Se espera que pueda albergar a más de 75 mil residentes y otros 300 mil personas que entren a Song IBD por trabajo. 40% serán áreas verdes abiertas, con parques y canchas de golf y será una ciudad para ser transitada a pie y en transporte colectivo. Más imágenes a continuación.

El punto de esta referencia es lo crucial que sería para San Pedro de Atacama, que fuera completamente sustentable, como pueblo. La inversión se justifica en un lugar de belleza única como es esta zona del mundo.

Link: Songdo IBD: South Korea´s Eco-City (via Inhabitat)

Link: (via Veo Verde)

Every country needs their own master-planned eco city. Germany will have aptly named ECO CITY Hamburg, the UK has Hanham Hall, Sweden has Super Sustainable City in Gothenburg, Spain has Logroño Montecorvo Eco City, and the UAW has Masdar. But South Korea seems to have two master-planned sustainable communities, we saw this super sustainable city by Foster + Partners earlier this week, and now we are taking a look at Songdo International Business District or Songdo IBD. This new eco-city will be impressive with its list of eco-credentials – tons of beautiful open space and parks, green roofs, solar passive design, mass transit and over 120 buildings built to LEED standards.

Songdo IBD, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, is located on the waterfront of Incheon, South Korea covering 1,500 acres. It is expected to cost over $30 billion and house 75,000 residents, and handle 300,000 commuters. Of the 1,500 acres, 40% of that will be open, green space, park and golf course, and the city will be easily traveled by foot and mass transit.

The first phase of the city has already been completed and Central Park, the large 100-acre green space, which was modeled after New York City’s Central Park, has already been completed. Besides the expansive park, Songdo takes inspiration from many other famous attractions from around the world. Songdo will also include Italianate canals, Savannah-style parks, Parisian boulevards, and a convention center modeled after Jørn Utzon’s iconic opera house.

The impressive open space will do wonders for storm water retention and reduction of urban heat island effect, but that’s not all the environmental tricks Songdo has up its sleeve. The whole city is based on LEED green building standards and over 120 buildings will seek LEED certification, which will make Songdo the largest private LEED development in the world. Songdo is also part of the LEED ND development program as well as Korean Green Building Certification System (KGBCS). The list of green design features includes, green roofs, LED lighting, co-generation, 75% of construction waste to be recycled, waste management system, low-VOC materials, expanded mass transit service, native landscaping and more.

Although the city seems a bit weak on the renewable energy technologies, the master planning and layout of parks and buildings seem well thought out. Mass transit, walkable and bikeable streets, density, open space and a good mix of residential and commercial will provide the makings of a beautiful and sustainable city.

Link: Inhabitat