The Hand in the Desert (Mano del Desierto)

Rising out of the barren Atacama Desert in Chile is a massive, 36-foot-tall stone hand. Built by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal in 1992, it looks like a buried giant reaching desperately for the sky. It is a surreal, isolated masterpiece located miles from any major civilization. Irarrázabal is known for his works exploring human suffering, and this giant monument represents vulnerability and helplessness in the vastness of the desert. Visitors driving along the Pan-American Highway often pull over just to stand in the shadow of its giant fingers, making it a must-see for anyone obsessed with bizarre, out-of-place roadside attractions.