Salar de Yuni is the largest salt marsh. Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia
Location: Bolivia
Square: 10,588 km²
Coordinates: 20°10"41.9"S 67°30"48.6"W
Short description
It is impossible to surprise a modern traveler, spoiled by a huge number of offers from travel agencies. Many sights, architectural and historical monuments in various cities and countries are so amazing and unique that it seems simply impossible to see an even more amazing creation of ancient people or a miracle created by nature itself.
View of the Uyuni salt marsh
However, this is a big misconception. There is always something in the world that amazes the imagination; something that takes your breath away; something where you want to return again and again. In this material we will talk about the largest lake in the world, but, as you might guess, not an ordinary body of water, but a beautiful dried salt lake - the Salar de Uyuni.
Lake Uyuni Salar is located in Bolivia, in the southwest of this amazing country, in the vicinity of the city of Uyuni, on the territory of the departments of Potosi and Oruro and at an altitude of almost 4,000 meters (!) above sea level. This is the largest salt marsh in the world, its area exceeds 10,500 square kilometers, and the thickness of the salt layer in some places is almost 10 meters. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all corners of our vast planet come here to see with their own eyes the “endless kilometers” of salt expanses, visit unusual salt hotels and capture on cameras and video cameras this miracle of nature, which, by the way, can change its appearance more than once during the day. coloring
Mounds of salt
Salar de Uyuni: history of formation
Before talking about the history of the formation of the largest salt lake, Uyuni, it is perhaps worthwhile to dwell a little on what salt marshes are and how they appear. All salt marshes on our planet were formed on the site of former water basins. In a lake where there is no runoff, and the rate of moisture evaporation exceeds the amount of precipitation that falls on the given territory, the concentration of salt in the water increases over time. When the water completely evaporates, a hard salt crust forms on the surface, which allows scientists to call the drying lake a salt marsh.
The Uyuni Salar is part of the Bolivian Altiplano mountain plateau, which, as mentioned above, is located at an altitude of about 4,000 meters above sea level. On this plateau, in addition to Uyuni, there are other salt marshes of much smaller size, as well as freshwater and salt lakes.
Salt mining
The history of the formation of the largest Bolivian salt marsh goes back to prehistoric times. About 30-40 thousand years ago, Uyuni was part of the huge Lake Minchin, which, under the influence of time, was transformed first into Lake Tauka, and later into Coipasa. After its partial drying, there remained two existing lakes Poopo and Uru Uru, and two salt marshes - Coipasa and Uyuni, separated from each other by a number of hills.
During the rainy season, Lake Poopo and its much larger neighbor, Titicaca, overflow their banks and cause natural flooding of the salt marshes of Coipas and Uyuni. The small amount of water that covers the salt layer of Uyuni transforms the salt desert into the world's largest mirror. “Having found yourself in any part of the salt marsh during the period when it is covered with water, it seems that you suddenly found yourself on another planet: the sky is both above and under your feet. The spectacle is indescribable in words. It creates a feeling of “floating in the air.” However, when you put your hand in the water and grab a handful of what you’re standing on, you realize that there’s a ton of salt around, which seems to never end,” a tourist who visited Lake Uyuni shares his impressions.
Indeed, the salt reserves in the Uyuni salt marsh are truly enormous. According to rough estimates by experts, there is about 10 billion (!) tons of salt here, and approximately 25 thousand tons of this natural mineral are mined in this area every year. First of all, it should be noted that the Uyuni salt flat is of great importance for the Bolivian economy. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the fact that it stores huge quantities of lithium chloride, from which lithium is extracted, which is used in the production of rechargeable batteries.
An equally ancient legend is associated with the ancient lake, its essence is as follows... A long time ago, the mountain ranges that today surround Uyuni, Tunupa, Cusca and Kuzina were giant people. Kusku married Tunupa, but the beautiful Cousin managed to charm him. Kusku left his wife and ran away from home, even though a child was growing up in the family. Tunupa grieved for a long time, shedding tears day and night. Her tears mixed with the breast milk that she fed her son, and they formed a snow-white salt marsh lake. For Bolivians, Tunupa is a deity whose name, in their opinion, the lake should bear.
Salar de Uyuni salt hotels
Local residents who extract and process salt from Uyuni use it not only as a seasoning for food. Traders offer all travelers who come to admire one of the main attractions of Bolivia to buy a souvenir made from this natural mineral. In addition, city guests are invited to stay in hotels in which the walls, roof and some furniture are made not of expensive modern building materials, but of... salt.
Such hotels were first built in the mid-90s, in the very “heart” of the salt marsh. The news about such colorful hotels instantly spread throughout all countries: the influx of tourists exceeded all expectations. However, due to many sanitation problems that adversely affected the surrounding area, the hotels were closed and dismantled. Over time, they were rebuilt again, but on the outskirts of the salt marsh and in compliance with all environmental norms and standards.
One of the salt hotels
Modern salt hotels have all the necessary amenities, including a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. The daily cost of such apartments will cost a tourist about 20 US dollars.
Lake Uyuni Salar: Train Graveyard
When going to Bolivia to Lake Uyuni as part of an excursion group, almost all tourists, at the beginning or at the end of their trip, make a stop at the train cemetery. Today the population of the town of Uyuni does not exceed 15 thousand people, and it was once a major center of Bolivia with a network of railway tracks. The decline in income from the mining industry, which began back in the 40s of the last century, led to the complete collapse of the railway in this territory. Huge electric locomotives, locomotives, carriages and trolleys were abandoned. Some examples of the train graveyard are over a hundred years old. Among them you can even find locomotives from Garratt and Meyer (these people were among the first to build articulated locomotives), but, unfortunately, they are all in rather poor condition. In 2006, the local administration raised the issue of creating an open-air museum on this site, but so far this idea has not been brought to life.
Train Graveyard
Salar de Uyuni: flora, fauna and climate
On the territory of the world's largest salt lake, as you might guess, there is practically no vegetation, the only exceptions being 10-meter cacti and small shrubs, which local residents use as fuel. In the period from November to December, which, by the way, is considered summer in Bolivia, you can see another stunning picture here: hundreds of pink flamingos walking along the endless salty surface of the lake. In some areas of the Uyuni salt marsh live foxes and small viscacha rodents, somewhat reminiscent of the well-known rabbits.
The rainy season begins in November and ends in March. The air temperature in the Uyuni salt marsh area in summer is +22 degrees Celsius. A hot day in Bolivia always gives way to cold nights. June, July, August (winter in South America) are considered the tourist season, despite the fact that during the day the air warms up only to +13 degrees Celsius, and at night the temperature can drop sharply to -10.
As mentioned above, the Uyuni salt marsh is located quite high above sea level, and tourists arriving from the flat area will experience discomfort for several days (dizziness, attacks of nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and headache). It will take several days for the body to get used to the new climate. Local residents chew coca leaves to keep their spirits up. The townspeople also advise visitors to use them, saying that they help fight unpleasant sensations. However, all travelers should know that coca leaves not only have a tonic effect, but are also a powerful drug that can cause persistent addiction in a short period of time.
When the Uyuni salt marsh is covered with water, it looks like a huge mirror reflecting the skyThe Uyuni salt marsh is made of gypsum, and its inner surface, which has a depth of 2 to 8 m, is covered with a layer of rock salt - halite. According to experts, it contains at least 10 billion tons of table salt.
From November to March, when the rainy season comes to the plateau, the surface of the salt marsh is covered with a thin layer of water, and then Uyuni resembles a giant mirror. The horizon line becomes almost invisible, the surface of the lake merges with the sky, and the landscapes around the Uyuni salt marsh acquire an unearthly beauty. Excellent conditions for photographers!
Many tourists from different countries of the world come to look at the endless snow-white ocean of salt or the wonderful mirror surface. The peak tourist season is from June to August. Especially for travelers, local residents have built hotels, the walls of which are made of salt blocks, and you can spend the night in them. A night in a salt hotel costs about $20. The owners even post notices for guests asking “not to lick” the interior items.
Next to the salt marsh is the mining town of Uyuni, home to 10.6 thousand inhabitants. Here you can see several monuments to workers, a monument to a railway carriage and sculptures in the steampunk style. The town is small; an hour is enough to explore it.
The inhabitants of Bolivia have a beautiful legend about the birth of the Uyuni salt marsh. It is framed by the Kusku, Kuzina and Tunupa mountain ranges. The Aymara Indians believe that these mountains were once inhabited by giant people. Tunupa was Kusku's wife and bore him a son. However, the beautiful Cousin separated the spouses, and Kusku went to live with her, taking with him the infant. Tunupa was very worried about what happened and cried. Her tears mixed with breast milk and gave birth to a huge salt marsh. Since then, local residents have called it Tunupa.
Origin of the Uyuni Salt Flat
In ancient times, on the Altiplano there was a huge reservoir called Minchin, the depth of which reached 100 meters. About 40 thousand years ago, due to the hot sun and lack of tributaries, it began to shallow. Gradually, on the site of Minchin, two lakes (Uru Uru and Poopo) and two large salt marshes - Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa - formed. By the way, the Coipasa salt marsh with an area of 2,218 km² is the second largest in Bolivia after Uyuni.
Climatic features
On the high plateau where the Uyuni salt marsh lies, the air temperature is stable. From November to January, the thermometer during the daytime reaches +21...+22°C, and in June it drops to +13°C. Since the salt marsh is located at an altitude of more than 3500 m above sea level, it is cold at night at any time of the year. In July, temperatures drop below 0°C and can sometimes drop to -10°C.
Relative humidity in the mountain plateau area is always low - 30-45%. The air is dry and precipitation is low. Even during the rainy season, there are only five days of precipitation per month.
Industrial significance of the salt marsh
The Uyuni Salt Flat plays a large role in the Bolivian economy. Rock salt is mined there. Every year it reaches 25 thousand tons. Tourists can visit the small village of Colchani, located 22 km from the city of Uyuni, in the east of the salt marsh. Its residents have long been involved in salt mining, and most of the village's houses are built from rock salt blocks.
The salt marsh also contains huge reserves of lithium chloride. From this salt, the light alkali metal lithium, necessary for the production of batteries, is extracted. Uyuni contains from 50 to 70% of all lithium reserves on the planet - about 100 million tons. There are also large reserves of magnesium chloride here.
The Uyuni salt marsh has been used in space exploration of the earth's surface. It is used to calibrate and test remote sensing instruments carried on orbiting satellites. Calibration at Uyuni is five times more successful than at the surface of the ocean. The reason for this is the high reflectivity, large size and flat surface of the salt lake.
Salt in Uyuni is mined for the needs of the food industry and for making tourist souvenirs. Rock salt blocks are used not only to make walls, but also to make tables, beds and various interior decorations.
The first salt hotels appeared in the 1990s in the very center of the salt marsh, and they became very popular among tourists. However, due to non-compliance with sanitation standards, such hotels heavily polluted the environment, and local authorities decided to dismantle them. The hotels were rebuilt on the outskirts of the Uyuni salt marsh. Now they work in compliance with all sanitary rules and environmental standards.
Panorama of the Uyuni salt marshWhat you can see in the Uyuni salt flat
In November, when the rainy season begins, more than 90 species of birds come here to breed, including three species of flamingos. They feed on algae algae and crustaceans, and from this the feathers of graceful birds acquire a bright pink color. The salt marsh is also home to several rare species of hummingbirds.
The area surrounding the Uyuni salt marsh is home to rabbit-like rodents - viscachas, foxes and alpacas. Soft and extremely warm, alpaca wool is similar in properties to sheep wool, but much lighter. It has long been used by local residents to make blankets, rugs and clothing items.
The surface of the Uyuni salt marsh is covered with large salt “honeycombs”. At the beginning of spring, when the rainy season ends, the salt crust dries out. The water that has accumulated below begins to break out through it to the surface, and small cone-shaped volcanoes are formed.
Uyuni is almost completely devoid of vegetation. In its center there are several islands, which, by their geological origin, are craters of volcanoes extinct in ancient times. During the existence of Lake Minchin, they were entirely hidden under the surface of the water.
Many tourists travel by jeep to Fish Island (Isla de los Pescados), covered with coral deposits. Giant cereus cacti up to 10 m high grow here. Botanists believe that the age of individual specimens exceeds 1200 years. In addition to cacti, several types of shrubs grow on the island, and local residents use them as fuel. There are also three small restaurants on Pisces Island for travelers to rest and refresh themselves.
Fish IslandAnother attraction of the huge salt marsh is the Valley of Stones (Valles de Rocas). This is the name of the place where you can see unusual stone remains. The bizarre shapes of these stone sculptures were created over many millions of years by the forces of wind, water and sunlight. And in the center of Uyuni there is a platform made of blocks of rock salt. Travelers leave flags of their countries on it.
3 km from the city of Uyuni, near the single-track railway line leading from Bolivia to the northern provinces of Chile, there is an unusual museum - the “graveyard” of steam locomotives (Cementerio de Trenes). Here, in the open air, you can see examples of rusted railway equipment that were used until the middle of the last century. Steam locomotives were abandoned as unnecessary after production from local mines fell sharply. Of particular interest are the articulated steam locomotives of the Meyer and Garratt systems.
Video: Reflections from Uyuni
Salt perfectly reflects sunlight. It glitters so much that it hurts your eyes, so it is difficult to do without sunglasses and a hat on the Uyuni salt flat. Experts advise to be sure to use sunscreen, because you can get very sunburned in 1-2 hours.
In addition, you need to understand that the salt marsh is located in the highlands, and some tourists at the beginning of the trip may experience signs of altitude sickness - lethargy, apathy, dizziness, nausea and sleep disturbances. It takes time for your health to normalize. A local acclimatization remedy is coca leaf tea.
The cheapest salt flat tours are sold in the city of Uyuni or online. They are usually designed for two days and two nights so that tourists can explore the main local attractions. Many people travel around the Uyuni salt flat on their own using rented transport.
How to get there
The Uyuni salt marsh is located 500 m south of the city of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. The nearest settlement is the small town of Uyuni.
Since 2011, an international airport (El Aeropuerto Joya Andina) has been opened next to the salt marsh. Two local airlines fly here from the Bolivian capital. Traveling by air is the fastest way to get to the salt marsh, as the flight takes only 40-45 minutes.
In addition, you can come to the Uyuni salt marsh by land transport - a rented car or bus. Tourist buses operate from La Paz and other major cities. The length of the road from the capital through the city of Oruro is 569 km. Tourists leave La Paz at 21.00 and arrive in Uyuni in the morning; accordingly, they travel from 10 to 15 hours.
There is another route option: you can travel from La Paz to Oruro by bus in 4 hours, and then get to Uyuni by local train.
The most interesting and unusual lake in the world is different from all the others. It amazes the imagination with absolutely fantastic landscapes - tons of salt turn after heavy rains into a smooth, almost mirror-like surface in which the sky is reflected, and it seems that the sky has inexplicably found itself on the surface of the earth.
Deserted white sea
The Salar de Uyuni, located in Bolivia near the city of Uyuni, is world famous. Its interior is covered with hard salt deposits up to 10 meters thick, which can change their color during the day due to the bright sun or pink dawn rays. From a distance, the desert looks endless, with cracked tiles seemingly stretching beyond the horizon.
Amazed tourists are fearlessly allowed into the largest salt mining site (about 25 thousand tons per year), without fear of spoiling the useful mineral, because they say that it will last for several million years. Uyuni (salt marsh) is of great importance for the development of the country's economy, and not only salt is the reason for this. Lithium, used in the production of batteries, is mined here on an industrial scale. Previously, the United States invested huge amounts of money in this particular production, but society had ambivalent reactions to such investment. Many have advocated keeping all profits from lithium mining within Bolivia, and the local government has long been preoccupied with building its own plant.
Geological history
More than 40 thousand years ago, this desert was part of the huge ancient reservoir Minchin, which, when dried, left 2 lakes and 2 salt marshes, separated by hills. In the center of the largest salt desert there are peculiar islands - the tops of previously active volcanoes that have survived to this day.
In prehistoric times they were completely submerged in the water of Minchin, and now the peeking out islands are covered with various fragile fossils. There is a version that the ancient lake went underground, since it is known that the Uyuni salt marsh stores a deep pool under its surface, filled with thick salt blocks. This amazing place is surrounded by mountains, and all the table salt remains at the very bottom of the lake, the water of which contains magnesium chloride and lithium chloride.
Poor flora and fauna
The Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) is devoid of any flora. If we talk about plants, then only giant cacti make their way through the thickness of salt deposits. Growing up to 12 meters high on a flat desert, they are a truly fantastic sight. At the end of the year (for Bolivia this is summer), amazingly beautiful pink flamingos fly here, walking along the hard surface of the snow-white lake. Researchers know about 80 species of birds that live on the salt marsh. And the poor fauna is represented by colonies of rodents.
Amazing hotels made of salt
Now, near the place where the Uyuni salt marsh is located, there are unusual hotels that cannot be seen in other parts of our planet. Erected in the early 90s, hotels built from salt offered all travelers who had traveled a long distance to relax in their rooms. Having learned about such an interesting innovation, tourists rushed to stay in unique hotels. True, they were later dismantled due to sanitary problems, but soon Uyuni (salt marsh) was replenished with a new modern hotel, built on its outskirts in compliance with construction standards and hygiene standards.
So in Bolivia, salt is not only a food flavor enhancer, but also an excellent building material, from which all blocks of hotels for tourists, furniture in rooms and even clocks with sculptures are made. When staying in hotels with affordable prices for overnight accommodation, all travelers are strictly warned: not to taste anything. However, so far few have resisted such temptation. True, everyone who spent the night in such a room notes that salt remains literally everywhere: on clothes, hair and skin. Therefore, many people prefer traditional hotels to exotic holidays.
Local residents of the village
The magical beauty of the salt marsh lake Uyuni amazes only foreigners with its landscapes, while local residents, accustomed to unusual views since childhood, have to work daily on the surface of the desert, extracting tons of salt. They fold it into neat small piles, which helps the water quickly evaporate, and then such mounds are easy to transport. Many try to survive due to numerous tourist excursions, selling souvenirs (all kinds of crafts), which simply amaze the imagination of tourists with their variety.
By the way, next to the salt marsh there is a small local museum where amazing salt figurines are displayed. And the houses of the residents, located on the outskirts of the village, are built from this solid mineral. Tourists are frozen in place by the stunning view of boiling white streets and houses against the backdrop of an equally snow-white endless field.
Salt marshes of Uyuni: how to get there?
This amazing corner is located at an altitude of approximately 3.6 thousand meters above the ground, which prevents many curious people from reaching their destination. But this even benefits the lost place, because its remoteness from civilization maintains a stable ecological situation.
To get to the most unique point on the globe, you need to get to the town of the same name Uyuni by train, plane or bus. In a small settlement there is a huge number of tourist offices offering their services. If someone does not want to join an organized jeep tour, they can take a private trip by car with a driver who will quickly take them to the desert.
The phenomenon of the sky under your feet
The rainy season here runs from November to March, and the temperature stays at 22 degrees Celsius. On days of heavy rainfall, excursions to the lake are suspended, as salt water can cause corrosion of cars. Despite the fact that winter is quite cool here, the period June-August is the season for tourists from all over the globe. The most beautiful phenomenon is when, after rain, the amazing salt marsh of Uyuni is filled with several centimeters of water. The photo of the mirror surface with the running clouds reflected on it causes genuine amazement in everyone who encounters this phenomenal landscape for the first time.
The space seems to expand, and a visual illusion arises in which it seems as if not the ground under your feet, but the sky itself is thrown down. Visible boundaries disappear in this place, forcing everyone who sees the world inside out to admire the natural attractions. The Salar de Uyuni, protected by mountains, is a quiet and peaceful area with a complete absence of winds. For the sake of the spectacle of the shiny surface, travelers from all over the globe rush to visit this enchantingly beautiful place.
True, many who arrive here experience an unpleasant state of dizziness and shortness of breath associated with acclimatization. And it takes several days for the body to fully get used to being so high above sea level.
Abandoned Train Graveyard
However, before getting to the salt marsh, all travelers visit another attraction of the small town, which once upon a time was the center of the country with railway tracks passing through here. The economic situation, which was not developing in the best way, led to a decrease in income from the mining industry.
The railway in the city is now reminiscent of abandoned carriages and locomotives in the salt desert, which has become a real train cemetery. Local authorities have repeatedly raised the issue of creating a museum on this site, since many of the abandoned specimens are more than 100 years old, and they are all now in a ruined and rusty state. Unfortunately, no one is still working on the open-air cemetery, and the question of preserving the heritage remains open for a long time.
Everyone going on a long journey needs to take certain things with them so that a trip to the Uyuni salt flat (Bolivia) brings only positive emotions.
- Moisturizing cream for constantly dry skin.
- Sunglasses. The light here is so bright that it hurts your eyes.
- Warm clothes, because even in summer there are always cool evenings in the desert.
- A sleeping bag for those who want to watch the sunrise by the lake.
- Rubber boots.
- National flag. There is a special area in front of the salt hotel, inside which tourists leave the symbol of the country as a souvenir.
Conclusion
Lake Uyuni Salt Flat (Bolivia) with its extraterrestrial landscapes will always attract travelers who want to walk across the sky abandoned to the ground and fully enjoy the unique views. The stunning endless expanses will give free rein to the imagination, and the quiet place will remain in the memory for a long time, like a real giant mirror in which clouds are reflected, always rushing somewhere.
Modern travelers, who travel around the world and have seen a huge number of sights, are rarely surprised by anything. It seems that all the monuments of nature, culture and history have already been explored. However, it is not. And Lake Salar de Uyuni proves it! In this article you will learn everything about this lake.
General information about the salt marsh
There are places on our planet that literally take your breath away. It's like you've arrived on an unknown planet. Uyuni is a salt marsh located in Bolivia, a country famous throughout the world for its deposits. Here, in the southwest of the country, at an altitude of almost 4000 above sea level, the largest salt marsh in the world is located. Its area is more than 10 thousand square meters. km.
The thickness of the salt layer sometimes exceeds 10 meters. Every year, crowds of tourists from all over the planet attack Uyuni, a salt marsh that attracts not only with its natural beauty, but also with many attractions. And taking a photo against the backdrop of the “heavenly mirror” is considered a real success!
The history of the formation of an amazing lake
Lake Uyuni is part of the Altiplano plateau. This mountain plateau is located at an altitude of 4 thousand meters above the sea and holds not only Uyuni, but also other small salt marshes, as well as dry lakes. How was the miracle of nature formed - the Uyuni salt marsh? Its history takes us back to ancient times. About 40 thousand years ago, the lake was part of the giant Lake Minchin. Under the influence of time, Minchin was transformed into the Tauka reservoir, then into Koipasa. After drying out, lakes Uru Uru and Poopa (still exist) and the salt marshes of Coipas and Uyuni remained. The salt marsh is subject to flooding during the rainy season as it is inundated by nearby Poopo and Titicaca. The water that covers the layer of salt turns it into a mirror. Tourists here get the impression that there is sky above their heads and below their feet. People seem to be floating in the air.
Climate of the area
The rainy season here lasts from November to March. The approximate air temperature in summer is 22 °C. As in many deserts and mountains, hot days on the Bolivian plateau give way to cool nights. Winter occurs in the summer months in South America, but despite this, the main influx of tourists occurs at such times. In winter, the air temperature near Uyuni (salt marsh) reaches +13 °C, and at night drops to -10 °C.
Due to the high altitude above sea level, many tourists (especially those unaccustomed to changes in altitude) experience inconvenience here. They feel dizzy and their ears are blocked. Attacks of nausea and vomiting occur, but the symptoms quickly pass. The body gets used to the climate, and the locals know how to help the tourist. They advise visitors to chew coca leaves - a strong tonic that helps relieve discomfort. However, people visiting the Salar de Uyuni salt marsh (Bolivia) should remember that coca leaves are not a weak drug!
Flora and fauna of a lake in the mountains
Due to the huge accumulation of salts, the local soil is unsuitable for life. There is almost no vegetation here. You can only notice tall cacti and rare shrubs, which the aborigines use as fuel. By the way, the cacti here are very interesting. Reaching a height of 12 meters, they all have different shapes and thicknesses. It is difficult to find two identical cacti.
In the summer, you can see a real miracle on the salt marsh: hundreds of beautiful birds flock here - pink flamingos, sedately walking along the mirror-like surface. Chilean, Andean and James flamingos come here every year to breed.
About 80 species of birds live nearby. Among them there are interesting individuals, such as the Andean goose and the Andean hummingbird. You can also see Andean foxes and small viscacha rodents here. The appearance of the latter slightly resembles the rabbits we are used to.
Salar de Uyuni: economic significance
The salt marsh is of enormous importance to the Bolivian economy. Of course, its main wealth is its truly significant reserves of salt. Experts suggest that there are ten billion tons of salt here. This is a huge number! Moreover, about 25 thousand tons of mineral are mined from the lake every year. Lithium is also mined here. It is used to produce batteries. More than 50% of the world's supply of this substance is found in Lake Bolivia.
During the dry season, the flat surface of the salt marsh is one of the main thoroughfares of the Altiplano. And of course, it is considered one of the main attractions of the country. Crowds of tourists flock here, replenishing the state treasury.
Another fact in favor of the lake: it has a flat mirror surface, clear skies and dry air. These are excellent conditions for testing and calibrating orbiting satellites. This is why the Salar de Uyuni salt marsh is so dear to the Bolivian government.
Local Attractions: Steam Locomotive Cemetery
The locomotive cemetery is located three kilometers from the city of Uyuni. Now this once large town has a population of 15 thousand people. But once upon a time the most important railway lines of the country passed here. In the 40s of the 20th century, production at the mines fell, and the city gradually began to empty out. The collapse of the railway service was not long in coming... Locomotives and carriages were abandoned just like that.
Tourists can even see steam locomotives here that are more than a century old. But unfortunately, all these historical objects are in a terrible and unkempt state. The authorities have tried to raise the issue of creating a museum, but so far to no avail.
Salt hotels
Bolivians who work to extract salt use it for more than just food. Traders offer visitors to the country souvenirs made right here from salt. But the inventive people didn’t stop there! People visiting the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia and wanting to experience the local flavor as closely as possible, stay overnight in hotels made from blocks of salt.
The first hotels were built in the 90s of the last century. They were erected in the middle of the lake. Due to sanitation problems that had a negative impact on the environment, the hotels were demolished and rebuilt in compliance with all regulations. Now the famous salt hotels are located on the edge of the lake.
The Hotel Palacio de Sal is one of the most famous hotels made of salt. The walls and roof, floor, furniture, sculptures here are made of salt. Tourists will also be offered a sauna and jacuzzi. The only prohibition of all salt block hotels is that you cannot lick the surroundings!
Pescado Island
Another attraction of Uyuni is located right in the middle of the lake. Pescado Island (translated as “fish”) during the rainy season really resembles a fish with its outlines. The area of the island is approximately 2 square meters. km. The mouth of an ancient extinct volcano rises above the salt desert.
It is covered with many fossilized corals and huge cacti. The cacti here are ancient; there are even thousand-year-old specimens. Pescado Island is famous for the ruins left over from the Inca settlement.
Other local attractions
When visiting the village of Kolchani, a tourist should definitely look into the local museum, where interesting pieces of furniture and sculptures made from the mineral are exhibited.
The lagoon of Lake Edionda is also interesting. There are flocks of flamingos here, and you can also spot llamas and alpacas. Flamingos also fly to the nearby Colorado Lagoon.
50 km from Lake Colorado there is a geyser basin called Sol de Mañana. The reservoir bubbles and emits sulfur gas with a characteristic unpleasant odor. Not far away you can swim in a thermal spring. This is especially useful for people suffering from arthritis.
If these attractions aren’t enough for you, then head to Laguna Verde. This green salt lake is located almost on the state border with Chile. Sedimentary deposits with copper give the water an interesting color.
Aymara Indians tell tourists an ancient legend. The mountains surrounding the salt marsh, according to the aborigines, were giants in ancient times. Kusku was married to Tunupe, but was fascinated by Cousin. The giant abandoned his wife and little child, and Tunupa shed bitter tears for a very long time. Streams of tears mixed with the milk she fed the child, and a huge lake was formed. Locals greatly respect the legend of Tunul and believe that the area should bear her name.
Reminder for tourists
When going to a new and unknown place, do not forget to take everything you need with you. Take sunglasses if you don't want to squint all the time. If you want to take a night photo of the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia, bring warm clothes.
The nights here can be very cool. Waterproof shoes and moisturizer should definitely fit in your suitcase, because the local climate makes your skin very dry.
If you'll be staying in a budget hotel, take a blanket or sleeping bag. Such hotels are often not heated.
The best place to visit Uyuni is February; it is in this month that the lake becomes a truly gigantic mirror. Don't forget to take photos of the local cute llamas walking along the shore. Their ears are decorated with funny earrings of different colors.
Salar de Uyuni: how to get there?
Tourists usually get to the salt marsh from the capital of Bolivia, the city of La Paz. Several types of transport run to the famous lake. So, how to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia?
If you want to admire a truly wonderful view of an endless mirror lake, flocks of charming pink flamingos, stay in an exotic hotel made of salt blocks and watch an ancient volcano, then be sure to visit the dry Lake Uyuni in South America.
Salar de Uyuni - (Spanish version of the name Salar de Uyuni) - the largest salt marsh in the world with an area of 10,582 km².
Uyuni is located in the southwest of Bolivia at an altitude of 3,656 meters above sea level.
It is covered with a salt crust of 2-8 meters.
The salt marsh contains a reserve of 10 billion tons of salt. And also up to 50% of the world's reserves of lithium chloride, from which lithium is obtained.
The salt marsh is subject to flooding during the rainy season as it is inundated by nearby Poopo and Titicaca. Water covering a layer of salt turns it into a mirror. Tourists here get the impression that there is sky above their heads and below their feet.
During the dry season, polygonal furrows are formed on the surface of the salt marsh, like a honeycomb.
Salar de Uyuni on the map
Attractions around Uyuni
Steam Locomotive Cemetery (Spanish: "Cementeriode Trenes")
Located 3 km from the city of Uyuni.
This town was once a major center of Bolivia with a developed network of railways. A sharp drop in mineral production at the surrounding mines in the 40s. last century led to the complete collapse of railway communication in this region. Huge locomotives, electric locomotives, carriages and trolleys were abandoned to the mercy of fate.
Hedionda Lagoon (Spanish: La Grande Laguna Hedionda)
Edionda is a salt lake favored by migrating pink and white flamingos. In the vicinity of the lake you can see herds of llamas and alpacas.
Quiver (Spanish: Colchani)
The small village is located on the eastern edge of the salt marsh, 22 km from Uyuni.
A special feature of the village are houses built from salt blocks.
Pescado Island (Spanish: IsladelPescado)
The island, with an area of about 2 km², located in the very center of a huge salt marsh, represents the pinnacle of an ancient volcano. It rises 100-120 m above the salt desert. The island is covered with fossilized coral deposits and giant cacti, some of which are more than 1000 years old. The island contains the ruins of ancient Inca settlements.
Salt hotels
Walls, floors, ceilings, as well as most of the furniture and interior decoration of the hotel - sculptures, beds, tables, chairs and even clocks - are made from salt.
Laguna Colorada (Spanish: Laguna Colorada)
A small salt lake of a reddish color. Located on the territory of the National Reserve of Andean Fauna (Spanish: Reserva Nacionalde Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa). The unusual red hue of the pond is given by microscopic algae “algae”. Lake Colorada is notable for its large colonies of flamingos.
Geyser pool of Sol de Manaña (Spanish: Solarde Manaña)
The geyser is located 50 km from Lake Colorada. Not far from the geyser pool is the Termas-de-Polques thermal pond, the temperature of which is pleasant for swimming.
Laguna Verde (Spanish: Laguna Verde)
Verde is a salt lake at the foot of the Licancabur volcano (Spanish: Licancabur; 5920 m), located on the border with Chile. The green color of the lake is given by sedimentary deposits containing copper. Verde is famous for its hot springs and picturesque scenery.
How to get to the Salar de Uyuni
Tourists usually get to the salt marsh from the capital of Bolivia, La Paz.
Where you need to get to first.
There are no direct flights from Russian and CIS cities to Bolivia; you will have to fly with two transfers, often with different airlines.
Tickets from Moscow to La Paz by month:
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