Jingszo !

Imagine standing on a cracked, ochre plain, the sun beating down, and suddenly noticing the outline of a ribcage the length of a bus. That’s what researchers first encountered in the Atacama Desert—a place that seems as far from the ocean as you can get. This bizarre sight is more common than you’d think: the desert is littered with fossilized remains of whales, dolphins, seals, and even strange, extinct aquatic creatures. It’s a place where bones have lain undisturbed for millions of years, perfectly preserved by the dry, salty air. Each fossil is a time capsule, offering a glimpse into a prehistoric world that couldn’t be more different than the desert of today.

It’s almost comical to picture whales in the Atacama’s barren expanse, but the answer lies in Earth’s ever-shifting nature. Millions of years ago, this region was submerged beneath the Pacific Ocean. Over time, tectonic forces lifted the seabed high and dry, turning ocean floor into parched plateau. The Atacama’s lack of rain and slow geological changes have helped preserve these fossils better than almost anywhere else. It’s a striking reminder that the world we see today is just a fleeting snapshot—underneath our feet, the layers of history tell a story of transformation and upheaval.