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 This beautiful valley is located 40 kilometers from Calama. It is characterized by its excellent weather conditions as well as for the quality of its water (from the Loa River), thus allowing for agriculture and livestock farming.
 Lasana is a small village with a population of around 40, spread out 12 kilometers along River Loa. This river used to have a heavy flow of water but it has been channeled and now shares its water with the mining plants. Its people grow corn, carrots, beetroots, lettuce, garlic, and alfalfa. They also raise sheep, llamas and other stock.
Archeological evidence shows that Lasana had been occupied in the past, as can be witnessed by the 76 petroglyphs along the path that joins Chiu-Chiu with Lasana as well as the amazing Pukara of Lasana, whose construction begun in the year 400 A.C. as a protection mechanism. The great Atacamanean population that existed at the time notably decreased after the conquest, and after 50 years settlers from nearby villages started to populate it again.  Among its religious celebrations the most important ones are San Isidro on the 15th of May, Nuestra Señora de la Merced on the 25th of May, and the Virgen del Carmen on the 16th of July. |
