Statue of a hand in the atacama desert. Giant hand in Chile's atacama desert. Who created the Hand of the Desert
Continuing the review of unusual sculptures in different parts of the world, it is impossible not to mention Mano del Desierto: a unique desert monument of human vulnerability in the middle of the Chilean desert. The Hand of the Desert is a monument in the form of a palm crying for help from the depths of the sand in one of the most arid deserts in the world.
Sometimes it only takes a little imagination of a sculptor to ignite powerful emotions. A striking example of this is this original sculpture in the Chilean Atacama Desert, made by the Chilean artist Mario Irarrasabal. Mario is the author of many similar sculptures around the world. Fans appreciate his work because of simple emotions that are easy to understand and feel. 
A monument called Mano del Desierto, or the "Hand of the Desert" is hidden in the depths of the Atacama at a distance of 75 kilometers from the nearest city of Antofagasta. Desert Arm is a favorite sightseeing attraction in the region, attracting numerous Chilean tourists. A thousand curious visitors come to see this amazing place and marvel at the symbolism of the monument to human helplessness. 
Traveling through the Atacama Desert (Chile, South America) is remembered primarily by an unusual statue in the form of a huge hand in the center of the sand dunes. From what I saw for the first time, various fantastic speculations arise in my head: that this is the hand of a giant who died of thirst in the desert, and the hand of some cosmic object, or a mythical object that appeared on earth as a sign from above. You can fantasize for a long time, but in fact the Hand of the Atacama Desert “Mano de Desierto” is the work of the Chilean sculpture Mario Irarrasabal, which was built back in 1992. It took several months to build the sculpture: the work was complicated by unbearable heat and dry air.
This sculpture is a reflection of the left palm of a person, which, as it were, is sown 3/4 from the ground. The height of the mesmerizing hand is 11m, and its basis was a complex structure made of cement on a steel frame.
If approached from a philosophical point of view, then, according to the author's intention, the hand displays:
human injustice;
loneliness;
grief, torment, pain and sadness;
the vulnerability and helplessness of man in the desert, before the forces of nature.
The location of the sculpture in the Chilean desert is not a coincidence. The thing is that the Atacama Desert is considered the hottest desert on earth, a kind of death valley, where there is nothing else besides the burning sun and insanely hot sand for many kilometers. Not every daredevil manages to overcome the desert on foot without loss. When tourists are taken on an excursion to this place, they are warned to take a lot of water, food and sun protection with them on the road.
The local attraction is very popular not only among tourists, but also among local residents. Everyone considers it their duty not only to take a picture against the background of this sculpture, but also to leave their inscription in the form of wishes or funny graphite on its surface. The sculpture is carefully looked after, washing off various drawings from time to time.
How to get to the Desert Arm
The monumental "Hand of the Desert" is located 75 km from the city of Antofagasta, which is not far from the Pan-American Highway. When leaving the city, you must follow the road 26 or 28 to the intersection with highway 5. The hand is visible a couple of hundred meters from the main road. However, it is not recommended to get to this place on your own. It is best to visit a local attraction as part of tourist groups.
Traveling in South America, in particular in the Atacama Desert, located in Chile, right among the sands you can see a giant hand and you should not pour water on yourself thinking that this is a hallucination, the hand will not disappear. After all, this is not a mirage at all, then maybe it is the hand of a giant who died from the heat in the desert and was covered with sand, and only his hand remained on the surface? But no! This sculpture was created by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrasabal. 
The reinforced concrete sculpture is called "Mano de Desierto", its height is 11 meters. The construction was financed in 1992 by the corporation Corporacion Pro Antofagasta. According to the sculptor, his creation shows how helpless and vulnerable a person is before the power of nature. The Chilean Atacama Desert is considered the hottest on Earth and not everyone who dared to overcome it on foot remained alive, which is why the Atacama Desert is called the Valley of Death. Those who decide to go on an excursion here are advised to take plenty of water and sunscreen. 
This attraction has become so popular that locals and tourists often decorate it with various inscriptions and graffiti. It is good that the sculpture is well looked after, periodically erasing all the inscriptions.
The sculpture "Hand of the Desert" is located 75 kilometers south of the Chilean city of Antofagasta, it can be reached both by a rented car and with an excursion group. Although you can get there by passing cars, especially since the giant hand is only a few hundred meters from the Pan-American Highway and it is simply impossible not to notice it.
Hundreds of miles of lunar landscapes in Chile's Atacama Desert stretch west of the majestic Andes mountain range. But besides rocks, sands and lifeless landscapes, here you can see a surreal sculpture, known throughout the world as the "Hand of the Desert" (Spanish version of Mano del desierto).
Hand in the Atacama DesertThe composition, which is strikingly different from the local landscape, will most likely cause bewilderment and suspicion at first that it is a mirage. But upon closer examination, it turns out that this is not a figment of the imagination, but a completely ordinary (or quite UNUSUAL) sculpture.
A hand in the desert is, oddly enough, a hand ... in the desert. You can't find any other description. The fives protrude almost completely from the sand and reach for the stars, as if some giant is trying to get out of the ground.
The total height of the statue is 11 meters. The arm of the desert is built at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level. The sculpture is made of concrete and has a metal frame. Against the background of the blue sky and the scorched desert, the hand creates an incredible view. 
How to find the Hand of the Desert
The sculpture is located 36 kilometers from the Pacific coast, in northern Chile, in the middle of one of the driest places in the world. It can be seen from Route 5, part of the Pan-American Highway, between the 1309 and 1310 marks. It lies only 400 meters from the highway. The nearest settlement is La Negra, 50 kilometers to the north. The large city of Antofagasta (on the Pacific coast) is located about 70 kilometers to the north.
Who created the Hand of the Desert
The author of such an unusual monument was the Chilean Mario Irrazabal Covarrubias. Between 1960 and 1964 he studied at the University of Notre Dame, where he received a Bachelor of Arts and Philosophy and a Master of Fine Arts. He then moved to Italy to continue his studies in theology at the Gregorian University of Rome. From 1967 to 1968 he studied in West Germany with the sculptor Waldemar Otto, with whom he worked on the Desert Hand project. For the first time, Mario presented his work at home in 1970.
His work is characterized by the use of images of parts of the human body. By this he expresses socially significant themes - human injustice, sadness and loneliness. It is believed that exaggerated proportions, such as those seen in the "Hand of the Desert", should create an emphasis on the vulnerability, weakness and helplessness of a person.
If there is a "Hand of the Desert", then somewhere you can probably find other parts of the desert body. For example, in the vast sandy expanses of the western part of the Sahara, there is a giant natural structure Guel Er Richat, which is called the Desert Eye. This huge circular formation from space seems to be the real Eye of the Sahara (it is sometimes called that).
The Desert Hand sculpture was unveiled on March 28, 1992. Its creation was financed by the local organization Corporacion Pro Antofagasta. Now it is one of Chile's notable and surreal sights. A hand in the desert is almost always a must stop for both locals and travelers on Highway 5.
As a rule, tourists behave culturally. But there are also irresponsible visitors who try to put their useless graffiti on the hand of the desert. Periodically, the sculpture is cleared of stupid art.
There are sculptures on the planet, which are very difficult to spoil with graffiti, as they are ... under water. Be sure to read about the Underwater Museum in Cancun.
If you're going on a desert trip, make sure you have a sunscreen, plenty of water, and a full tank of gas. 
general information
A huge hand directed to the sky appears before people passing by like a mirage. She suggests thoughts about the unfortunate giant, covered with the sands of a merciless desert. It seems that the creature buried underground is praying for help. The author wanted to create a colorful symbol of insecurity and powerlessness of man in front of omnipotent nature. A giant hand in the desert is the only thing that reminds you of life in the deserted expanses of the Atacama. Having overcome several kilometers along the desert landscapes, one can involuntarily think about how unimportant and short our existence is.
The sculpture serves as a famous filming location. The hand of the desert is featured in many commercials and music videos. Tourists often leave inscriptions on it, so it has to be constantly cleaned. The organization "Association for Antofagasta" took care of the monument. Its participants keep it in the proper form and ask not to decorate the hand with various patterns. This initiative is supported by the authorities of the region - in 2013, together with representatives of the Ministry of Tourism of Chile, an action was organized to clean the sculpture.
Desert Hand is located 75 km south of Antofagasta near the Pan-American Highway. It is quite difficult to get lost here, since the massive structure can be seen from afar - it is located to the right of the road.
The easiest way to get here is with a group of tourists, by passing car or by rented car. It is not recommended to cover a huge distance on foot. The Atacama Desert has one of the driest and hottest climates in the world. Having decided to go here, do not forget to take care of provisions in advance. After leaving the settlement, you will not be able to purchase the necessary goods. Be sure to take enough water and food. Sun protection – hat, umbrella, cream with a UV filter are important.
