Environmental issues in Chile the highest water rates in Latin America. Nearly 90% of the water rights for hydroelectric production are owned by three companies. There are more water rights that have been issued than there are reserves in some parts of the country which has led to the drying up of groundwater resources. This shortage has particularly affected the rural and indigenous population of Chile. The mining industry has had a considerable impact on the environment of Chile. One region in particular that been significantly impacted is that of the Atacama Desert, which is considered one of the driest regions in the world.
Lost in the Desert shot in two versions, one in Afrikaans and the other in English. The Afrikaans version appeared in 1969 under the title "Dirkie", and the English version appeared in either 1969 or 1970 (possibly varying according to country) under the title "Dirkie Lost in the Desert", which was sometimes referred to and marketed as "Lost in the Desert", which is possibly an alternative official title for the English version. The film was released on DVD in 2005 (copyright 1999), and this disc contains both versions of the film, selectable from the front menu. The English version is about 70 minutes long,