En la costa desertica del Norte Grande de Chile, en los alrededores de la ciudad de Iquique, se levanta una gran duna que alcanza una altura cercana a los 250 m s.n.m. Observaciones geomorfologicas, asi como el contraste sedimentologico entre las arenas de la duna y las de las playas vecinas, implican que no existe hoy en dia una fuente activa de abastecimiento de arena para la duna que, por lo tanto, tiene un caracter relicto. Ella, probablemente, se formo durante la ultima glaciacion (estadio 2 de la cronologia isotopica, ca. 20.000 a A.P.) cuando un nivel del mar 100 m interior al actual expuso a la deflacion una plataforma marina de ca. 5 km de ancho que habria provisto la arena que conforma la duna. Considerando que el desarrollo urbano de Iquique ha puesto en peligro la existencia de esta duna, de aspecto singular y de gran valor escenico, se recomienda su conservacion declarandola monumento natural.An inherited form: the high dune of Iquique (Tarapacá Region, Chile). On the arid coast of northernmost Chile, the surroundings of the city of Iquique show a high dune which reaches an elevation of about 250 m a.s.l. Geomorphological observations as well as the sedimentological contrast between sands from the dune and those from the neighbouring beaches imply that presently no supply of sand is available for the dune. Such evidence points to the relict character of the dune which probably formed during the last glacial period (isotopic stage 2, ca. 20,000 yr B.P.). At that time, sea-level being about 100 m below the present one, an emerged marine platform, 5 km wide, allowed an active deflation which supplied a large quantity of sand to the dune. Since the urban expansion of Iquique is threatening the existence of the dune, it is suggested to consider it as a natural monument in order to ensure its preservation.