This is the breathtaking Salar de Uyuni in southwestern Bolivia. The worlds largest salt flat sits at a lofty 3653m (11,985ft) and blankets an amazing 12,000 sq km (4633 sq mi). It was part of a prehistoric salt lake, Lago Minchin, which once covered most of southwest Bolivia. When it dried up, it left a couple of seasonal puddles and several salt pans, including the Salar de Uyuni. The savage beauty of this vast salt desert makes it one of South Americas most awe-inspiring spectacles. The Salar de Uyuni or “salt flats” is a one of the highlights of a trip to Bolivia and shouldn’t be missed as it is a unique place in the world. The terrain in this area and the desert areas beyond, is harsh and conditions are basic so you should not expect a lot of comfort but the rewards are well worth it. No one knows for sure how much salt makes up the salt flats (salar de uyuni) but it is estimated at many millions of tons & it has been widely publicized in recent years as the worlds largest source of lithium.If you search for salt flats (salar de uyuni) and lithium on the internet you will find thousands of articles about these lithium deposits and the salt falts (salar de uyuni) themselves. Apart from the incredible salt flats (salar de uyuni) themselves a multiday tour will visit red and green colored lakes with flocks of flamingos, hot geyser fields, hot springs and pass by barren volcanic desertscapes with surreal rock formations. When to go there? During the rainy season. When it rains, the salty crust becomes a giant mirror....and a giant mirror means giant, double sunsets! Salar de Uyuni looks like a great place to reflect......and to be silly......and to explore. How to get there? By car, however, travellers should take great care in choosing which tour operator to go with when visiting the salt flats. Fatal accidents due to unsafe vehicles and drivers are not unheard of. Make sure your vehicles have seatbelts, emergency radio transmitters and first aid equipment, and dont shy from asking about guides levels of training and experience. Of course, there are also many reputable tour operators in the area who will ensure your experience of this natural wonder is both memorable and safe.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 08:00:00 +0000
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