Giant hand rises from the world's driest desert

The Hand of the Desert is one of the top tourist attractions in the Atacama Desert - Photo: VOY DE VIAJE

The Atacama Desert is the largest arid desert in the world. However, that is not the only reason why this desert has become so famous.

It is the Hand of the Desert that makes this place a must-see for travel enthusiasts.

Located at an altitude of 1,100m above sea level, this 11m high sculpture stands out from the endless golden sands of the Atacama Desert. The father of this sculpture is Mario Irarrázabal, a Chilean artist.

More than 25 years ago, the city government of Antofagasta (Chile) asked sculptor Mario Irarrázabal to create a monument to highlight the emptiness of the Atacama Desert.

On March 28, 1992, the sculpture Hand of the Desert was created and became the most successful sculpture of artist Mario Irarrázabal. The image of a giant hand rising from the ground reminds people of the ruins of an ancient civilization.

Each visitor to this area has their own interpretation and perception of the meaning of the work - Photo: CNN

According to travel magazine Atlas Obscura, the 11-meter-tall Hand of the Desert is made of cement and iron. The work was funded by Corporación Pro Antofagasta, an organization that promotes local development.

The image of a hand in the desert can stir the imagination of anyone who comes here and sees it. Every visitor to this area has their own interpretation and perception of the meaning of the work.

Some believe the hand is the city's way of saying goodbye to visitors, while others believe it is the hand of a man struggling to escape the sands of the Atacama Desert.

However, the original purpose when Mario Irarrázabal created this work was to commemorate the victims of brutal torture during the military dictatorship in Chile.

In addition, the idea behind the giant hand reaching into the sky also speaks of human weakness and helplessness before the vastness of nature, while also expressing sympathy for the injustices and suffering that humanity faces around the world.