As I was writing BoliviaKnight and researching all about Bolivia's climate, culture, and history, I came across pictures of one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat. I know, that doesn't sound that impressive, but the reflective qualities of the salt crystals act like a mirror, reflecting the massive expanse of sky over this 4086 square miles of salt.
The reflection also causes an optical illusion that makes depth perception very difficult, leading to folks taking lots of silly pictures as well.
The reflection also causes an optical illusion that makes depth perception very difficult, leading to folks taking lots of silly pictures as well.
But the salt flat is not all fun and games. The sunlight reflecting off the salt can be blinding, the high altitude can make it hard to breath or result in altitude sickness, and the risk of driving at high speeds on the salt crust which is only a few yards thick, over a lake that is 430 feet deep, make trips across the salt flat challenging. The remote location adds to the risk of the adventure because getting help in an emergency is difficult.
Underneath the surface lies the world's largest supply of lithium, comprising 50-70% of the world's supply of this critical component for the lithium ion batteries used to power all our smart devices.
There are several islands in the midst of the salt flat and even a hotel on one of them made entirely of salt bricks. The walls, beds, chairs, and tables are all made from bricks of salt cut from the Salar. Some of the islands are home to vizcachas, a type of chinchilla, as well as Andean foxes, and flamingos, who migrate to the Salar to breed every November.
There are legends regarding the Salar as well. According to locals the three mountains that border the salt flat, Kusina, Kusku, and Tunupa, were named for gods or giants. Tunupa married Kusku, but Kusku betrayed his wife with Kusina. It is said that as she nursed her son, Tunupa's tears mixed with milk to form the Salar, and some locals say its name should be Salar de Tunupa, to honor her tears.
Underneath the surface lies the world's largest supply of lithium, comprising 50-70% of the world's supply of this critical component for the lithium ion batteries used to power all our smart devices.
There are several islands in the midst of the salt flat and even a hotel on one of them made entirely of salt bricks. The walls, beds, chairs, and tables are all made from bricks of salt cut from the Salar. Some of the islands are home to vizcachas, a type of chinchilla, as well as Andean foxes, and flamingos, who migrate to the Salar to breed every November.
There are legends regarding the Salar as well. According to locals the three mountains that border the salt flat, Kusina, Kusku, and Tunupa, were named for gods or giants. Tunupa married Kusku, but Kusku betrayed his wife with Kusina. It is said that as she nursed her son, Tunupa's tears mixed with milk to form the Salar, and some locals say its name should be Salar de Tunupa, to honor her tears.
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