Salar de Uyuni, also known as the “Mirror of the Sky,” is located in the southwestern town of Uyuni, Bolivia. Legend has it that it was formed during the uplift of the Andes Mountains. It stretches approximately 250 kilometers from east to west and 100 kilometers from north to south, covering an area of 10,582 square kilometers. It is the world’s largest salt flat, rich in rock salt and gypsum.
The unique scenery and tranquil environment of Salar de Uyuni make it a dream destination for many travel enthusiasts. The endless white world attracts visitors from all over the globe. During the winter, it is filled with rainwater, forming a shallow lake. In the summer, the lake water dries up, leaving behind a mineral hard crust predominantly of salt, reaching up to 6 meters thick in the central part. Visitors can drive across the salt flat, especially after rain, when the surface acts like a mirror reflecting the breathtaking sky. Salar de Uyuni not only boasts incredibly beautiful natural landscapes but also serves as a paradise for many rare flora and fauna, including millennia-old cacti, exotic hummingbirds, and the pink flamingo, adding vibrancy to the salt flat.
As Salar de Uyuni is a natural salt field, the local residents are engaged in salt harvesting as a prevalent economic activity. They often pile up small salt mounds of around 1 meter in height to dry or cut out cubic shapes ranging from tens of centimeters to 1 meter using an axe. Besides being sent to nearby refineries for processing, this coarse salt is also used by the locals as building material for houses.
Salar de Uyuni
Reasons to visit: The world’s largest salt flat
Continent: South America
Country: Bolivia
Provinces: Oruro and Potosí Department