Inca Bridge

About

According to legend, the Inca Bridge was formed after an Inca king’s guards lay over a river and were mineralized in order to give their lord a place to cross. The actual formation is no less interesting though, for the geologically minded. After mineral springs formed multicolored deposits, glacial runoff cut into the softer sediments below, forming a natural arch. The spring waters were believed to be therapeutic, leading to the construction of a small village, with a spa tucked almost underneath the Inca Bridge. Unfortunately, a number of floods destroyed the village and have made the bridge too unstable to walk across. After admiring this geological oddity, you can get one of the most unique souvenirs in Chile - an object that’s been left in the spring water to become encrusted in minerals.