Salar de Uyuni, The Largest Saltwater Desert in the World - A Glittering Beauty

Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt desert in the world and spans over 4,190 m². It is located between the Potosi and Oruro regions, near the town of Uyuni in southwest Bolivia, at an altitude of 3,665 meters. The area contains a vast amount of salt which, estimated at about 10 billion tons, of which about 25,000 are extracted annually from this sparkling white desert. The 11 layers of salt is a 10-meter surface layer. It represents one-third of the lithium reserves of the entire planet.



This beautiful pan of salt was formed following the transformation of a gigantic prehistoric lake about 40,000 years ago. The area was part of the Minchin Lake and its drainage gave birth to two lakes and two large deserts of salt - the Salar de Coipasa and the largest Salar de Uyuni.



The Uyuni desert hides two other wonderful natural beauties - the Isle of Pescado (Fish Island) named after its fish-like shape, and is located in the middle of the desert and covered with huge cacti. The Laguna Colorada is red in color due to the presence of minerals in the water. Other important sites within the Desert are the Sol de Mañana, a geyser basin with hot mud pools, and the Termas de Polques (Thermal Springs) with sulfur water at a temperature of 86°F.



The Salar de Uyuni offers a unique panorama of lights and shadows with a unique absence of perspective which gives an observer a confused feeling, like being in a game of surreal shapes. On hot summer days, extraordinary visual effects are created - the sky and the earth blend, and the perspective disappears completely by giving visitors a sense of disorientation, but at the same time an amazing emotional experience.

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