<Li> The La Silla Observatory </Li> <Li> The Paranal Observatory, which includes the Very Large Telescope </Li> <P> A new radio astronomy telescope, called the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, built by Europe, Japan, the United States, Canada and Chile in the Llano de Chajnantor Observatory officially opened on 3 October 2011 . A number of radio astronomy projects, such as the CBI, the ASTE and the ACT, among others, have been operating in the Chajnantor area since 1999 . </P> <P> The Atacama Desert is popular with all - terrain sports enthusiasts . Various championships have taken place here including the Lower Atacama Rally, Lower Chile Rally, Patagonia - Atacama Rally and the latter Dakar Rally's editions . The rally was organized by the A.S.O. and held in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 . The dunes of the desert are ideal rally races located in the outskirts of the city of Copiapó . The 2013 Dakar 15 - Day Rally started on 5 January in Lima, Peru, through Chile, Argentina and back to Chile finishing in Santiago . Visitors also use the Atacama Desert sand dunes for Sandboarding (Spanish: duna). </P>

Where is the atacama desert located in south america