UNIMAGINABLE SALT FLATS OF
BOLIVIA SOUTH AMERICA
DINESH VORA
Amazing salt flats where the sky and ground merge into one to create dreamy landscapes
Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi). It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, and is elevated 3,656 meters.
Salar de Uyuni is part of the Altiplano of Bolivia in South America. The Altiplano is a high plateau, which was formed during uplift of the Andes mountains. The plateau includes fresh and saltwater lakes as well as salt flats and is surrounded by mountains with no drainage outlets.
(11,995 ft) above the mean sea level. The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average altitude variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar.
The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium. It contains 50 to 70% of the world's lithium reserves, which is in the process of being extracted. The large area, clear skies and exceptional surface flatness make the Salar an ideal object for calibrating the altimeters of the Earth observation satellites. The Salar serves as the major transport route across the Bolivian Altiplano and is a major breeding ground for several species of pink flamingos.
Popular spot: Tourists have been visiting the area for years, and can stay in homes cut off from the modern world
Mirror This tourist visiting the South American region is reflected in the salt flats, which are over 3,000m above sea level
Volcanic region: The Tunupa volcano can be seen in the background as these cars negotiate the flats
But they are of course taken here on Earth, in Bolivia's Uyuni salt flats to be precise. The flats, located in Southern Bolivia near the country's Tunupa volcano make up the world's largest salt desert, around 11,000 km sq. That makes it even larger than Lake Titicaca, the vast stretch of water shared by Bolivia and neighboring Peru.
Mirror image: It is hard to tell where the lakes end and the clouds begin in this beautiful image
Power: The lithium in the area makes up half the world's supply and is used in batteries for mobile phones and computers, as well as being a key element in electric cars
Stunning: The salt flats themselves are 3,600m above sea level in the Andes - making it almost possible, it seems, to reach up and touch the clouds from the ground
And the salt flats themselves are 3,600m above sea level in the Andes - making it almost possible, it seems, to reach up and touch the clouds from the ground.
The area has long been popular with tourists, particularly those looking for a holiday with a difference.
Swan fake: Clouds resemble feathered flock taking flight across the skies
Visitors to the area can take in the vast white expanse of salt and the stunning surrounding vistas, while staying with locals in an area which feels cut off from the modern world.
This hiker is just a dot in the distance in the beautiful salt lakes
Out of this world: Bolivia's Uyuni salt flats are spectacular
Hypnotic: The flats, located in Southern Bolivia near the country's Tunupa volcano make up the world's largest salt desert, around 11,000 km sq
Stunning: The hexagons in this landscape evolved after
the salt pan, near Bolivia's Volcano
Tunupa, had dried up
the salt pan, near Bolivia's Volcano
Tunupa, had dried up
At dusk: Photographed at twilight, the dried up salt
pans appear blue in colour
pans appear blue in colour
For just $15 a day, tourists can lodge with peasant families
in homes without running water or electricity - and
outhouses used as bathrooms.
in homes without running water or electricity - and
outhouses used as bathrooms.
But despite the loss of home comforts, they can join in with
local activities - such as the annual llama-shearing
season in August, or joining llama caravans that deliver salt blocks to remote villages in exchange for food and other goods.
local activities - such as the annual llama-shearing
season in August, or joining llama caravans that deliver salt blocks to remote villages in exchange for food and other goods.
Although tourists have long been visiting the area, it wasn't until around five years ago that interest grew in extracting the 5.4m tons of lithium which is found just below the surface of the salt.
The lithium in the area makes up half the world's supply and is used in batteries for mobile phones and computers, as well as being a key element in electric cars.
The impact of mining on the tourism industry remains uncertain.
However it has yet to deter tourists from staying with the locals in Atulcha, Villamar and San Juan, all located around the salt flats.
'There is great interest in community tourism, to live with the people in the countryside, and even join them in their meals," said Rosa Perez, who heads the Uyuni regional tourism board.
'The communities have set up a few rooms with beds to be able to live with the visitors.'
'The communities have set up a few rooms with beds to be able to live with the visitors.'
Exact location: Bolivia is home to the salt flats,
while a NASA satellite picture shows the area from above
while a NASA satellite picture shows the area from above
UNIMAGINABLE SALT FLATS OF
BOLIVIA SOUTH AMERICA
DINESH VORA
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