The Uyuni Salt Flat

It is as if you were walking in the middle of nowhere or well, in this case, on a pale and endless ground, as if you were in the clouds. This happens in the southwest of Bolivia, where the Uyuni salt flat is located, which is a saline desert so wide that it can be seen, even from space.

It is important to point out that its geological history is extremely interesting, easily catching our attention. Its history places this site twice under brackish water, once 40,000 million years ago, covered by Lake Minchin which was about 36,000 square kilometers and the other 12,000 years ago, when the melting of the glacier formed the waters of Lake Tauka. However, after thousands of years, both bodies evaporated due to the lack of tributaries and heat from volcanic activity, leaving the Salar Uyuni as a record of their existence.

Well, the decay helped the salt layers of the ancient lakes solidify to form the white expanses of the Bolivian altiplano. Not to mention that few of the witnesses of this prehistoric past are 32 islands formed by pertrified corals and stromatolites.

Thus, the Uyuni salt flat is considered the largest reserve in the world, because there are about 100 million tons of lithium under the 12,000 square kilometers of the surface of the salt flat. It is for this reason that local artisans can process up to 5,000 kilos of salt in just one day and some 25,000 tons per year. Isn't that impressive?

In a good rainy season the nature of the salar makes a recovery of up to five centimeters thick and five meters in perimeter every year. This is due to the constant expansion of the desert, so the town of Uyuni is in danger every year, because if it expands until it reaches the town, it would be buried under salt.

Something that is very impressive about this place, is that at sunset this desert plain seems to be snowed, that is, the sparkles between the grains of salt gradually fade as the sun goes down. For, with the surrounding darkness, the sky itself and the horizon intertwine until the first stars begin to emerge. It is considered something beautiful.

I must admit that it is one of the most beautiful places we have on the planet, because through images can get to capture our absolute attention, not to mention that its history is completely interesting and has happened more than millions of years ago. I can't help but think that at some point I would like to visit this place during sunset and live the experience of being closer to the stars.

I hope you liked and enjoyed this article.

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