Lake Uyuni (s alt marsh), Bolivia

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

The most interesting and unusual lake in the world is different from all the others. It strikes the imagination with absolutely fantastic landscapes - after heavy rains, tons of s alt turn into a smooth, almost mirror-like surface in which the heavens are reflected, and it seems that the sky has inexplicably found itself on the surface of the earth.

Desert white sea

The Uyuni S alt Flat, located in Bolivia near the city of Uyuni, is world famous. Its inner part is covered with hard s alt deposits up to 10 meters thick, which can change their shade during the day due to the bright sun or pink dawn rays. From a distance, the desert looks like an endless white sea, the cracked tiles of which seem to extend beyond the horizon.

Amazed tourists are fearlessly allowed into the largest place where s alt is mined (about 25 thousand tons per year), without fear of spoiling the useful mineral, because they say that it will last for several million more years. Uyuni (s alt marsh) is of great importance for the development of the economycountries, and not only s alt is the reason. Here, lithium is mined on an industrial scale, which is used in the manufacture of batteries. Previously, the United States invested a lot of money in this production, but the society reacted ambiguously to such an investment. Many advocated that all income received from lithium mining should remain inside Bolivia, and the local government has long been concerned about building its 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 s alt marshes, separated by hills. In the center of the largest s alt desert there are peculiar islands - the tops of previously active volcanoes that have survived to our time.

In prehistoric times, they were completely submerged in Minchin water, and now the peeking out islands are covered with various fragile fossils. There is a version that the ancient lake went underground, as it is known that the Uyuni s alt marsh keeps a deep pool under its surface, filled with thick s alt blocks. Mountains surround this amazing place, and all table s alt remains at the very bottom of the lake, the water of which contains magnesium chloride and lithium chloride.

Poor flora and fauna

The s alt flat of Uyuni (Bolivia) is devoid of any flora. If we talk about plants, then only giant cacti make their way through the thickness of s alt deposits. Growing up to 12 meters high on a flat desert, they are a truly fantastic sight. ATAt the end of the year (this is summer for Bolivia), amazingly beautiful pink flamingos fly here, walking along the hard surface of a snow-white lake. Researchers know about 80 species of birds living on the s alt marsh. And the poor animal world is represented by colonies of rodents.

Amazing s alt hotels

Now near the place where the Uyuni s alt marsh is located, there are unusual hotels that cannot be seen in other parts of our planet. Built in the early 90s, hotels built of s alt offered all travelers who have come a long way to relax in their rooms. Having learned about such an interesting innovation, tourists hurried to stay in unique hotels. True, they were later dismantled due to sanitary problems, but soon Uyuni (s alt marsh) was replenished with a new modern hotel, built on its outskirts in compliance with building standards and hygiene standards.

So s alt in Bolivia is not only an enhancer of the taste of food, 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 placed in hotels with affordable prices for overnight stays, all travelers are strictly warned: do not taste anything. So far, however, few have resisted such a temptation. True, all those who spent the night in such a room note that s alt remains literally everywhere: on clothes, hair and skin. Therefore, many people prefer traditionalhotels.

Local residents of the village

The magical beauty of the Uyuni s alt marsh lake amazes with its landscapes only to foreigners, while local residents, accustomed to unusual views from childhood, have to work daily on the surface of the desert, extracting tons of s alt. They fold it in neat small piles, which helps the water to evaporate quickly, and subsequently such mounds are easy to transport. Many try to survive through numerous tourist excursions, selling souvenirs (all kinds of crafts), which simply surprises the imagination of tourists with a variety.

By the way, next to the s alt marsh there is a small local museum with amazing s alt figures. Yes, and the houses of the inhabitants, located on the outskirts of the village, are built from this solid mineral. Tourists freeze in place from the stunning view of boiling white streets and houses against the backdrop of the same snow-white endless field.

Uyuni S alt Flats: how to get there?

An amazing corner is located at an altitude of about 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 regular bus. In a small settlement there is a huge number of tourist offices offering their services. If someone does not want to joinorganized tour in jeeps, he can take a private trip in a car with a driver who will quickly take you to the desert.

The phenomenon of the sky underfoot

The rainy season here runs from November to March, and the temperature is kept at 22 degrees Celsius. On days of heavy precipitation, excursions to the lake are suspended, as s alt water can cause corrosion of cars. Despite the fact that in winter it is quite cool here, it is the period of June-August that is the season for tourists from all over the globe. The most beautiful phenomenon is when, after rain, the amazing Uyuni s alt marsh is filled with water by several centimeters. A photo of a mirror surface with running clouds reflected on it causes genuine amazement for everyone who encounters this phenomenal landscape for the first time.

Space seems to be expanding, and a visual illusion appears, in which it seems as if not the earth under your feet, but the sky itself is thrown down. Visible boundaries in this place disappear, forcing everyone who sees the world inside out to admire the natural sights. The Uyuni s alt marsh, protected by mountains, is a quiet and calm area with a complete absence of winds. Travelers from all over the world rush to visit the enchantingly beautiful place for the spectacle of a brilliant surface.

True, many who arrive here experience an unpleasant state of dizziness and shortness of breath associated with acclimatization. And it takes a few days for the body to fully get used to being so high above sea level.

Abandoned train graveyard

However, before getting to the s alt marsh, all travelers visit one more attraction of a small town, which was once the center of the country with railway lines passing here. The economic situation, which was not the best, led to a decrease in the income of the mining industry.

Abandoned wagons and locomotives on the territory of the s alt desert, which has become a real graveyard of trains, are now reminiscent of the railway in the city. Local authorities have repeatedly raised the issue of creating a museum on this site, since many copies abandoned to the mercy of fate are over 100 years old, and they are all now in a ruined and rusty state. Unfortunately, until now no one has taken care of the open-air cemetery, and the issue of preserving the heritage remains open for a long time.

Tourist Tips

Everyone who goes on a long journey needs to take certain things with them so that a trip to the Uyuni S alt Flats (Bolivia) brings only positive emotions.

• Moisturizer for constantly dry skin.
• Sunglasses. The light here is so bright that it hurts the eyes.
• Warm clothes, because even in the summer in the desert it is always cool evenings.
• Sleeping bag for those who want to meet the sunrise by the lake.
• Rubber boots.
• National flag. There is a special platform in front of the s alt hotel, inside which tourists leave the symbol of the country as a keepsake.

Conclusion

Uyuni S alt Lake (Bolivia) with extraterrestrial landscapes will always attract travelers who want to walk through the sky thrown to the ground and enjoy the unique views to the fullest. Stunning endless expanses will give free rein to the imagination, and a quiet place will remain in memory for a long time, like a real giant mirror, which reflects clouds always hurrying somewhere.