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Lake Uyuni (solonchak), Bolivia

The most interesting and unusual lake in the world is different from all others. It strikes the imagination with absolutely fantastic landscapes - tons of salt turn after heavy rains into an even, almost mirror-like surface, in which the heavens are reflected, and it seems that the sky has come to the surface of the earth in an incomprehensible way.

Deserted white sea

Solonchak Uyuni, located in Bolivia near the city of Uyuni, is world famous. The inner part of it is covered with hard salt deposits up to 10 meters thick, which during the day can change their shade 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 line.

To the largest salt extraction site (about 25 thousand tons per year) fearlessly let astonished tourists, not being afraid of damage to a useful mineral, they say that it will last for several million more years. Uyuni (solonchak) is of great importance for the development of the country's economy, and not only is salt the cause. Here, on an industrial scale, lithium is produced, which is used in the production of batteries. Earlier, the United States invested a lot of money in this production, but the society has reacted ambiguously to such investment. Many advocated that all revenues derived from lithium mining remain inside Bolivia, and the local government has long been concerned with the construction of its plant.

Geological history

More than 40 thousand years ago, this desert was part of the huge ancient pond Minchin, which, when dried, left 2 lakes and 2 solonchaks, separated by hills. In the center of the largest salt desert are idyllic islands - the surviving tops of previously active volcanoes.

In prehistoric times, they were completely submerged in the water of Minchin, and now the peeping islands are covered with various fragile fossils. There is a version that the oldest lake has gone underground, since it is known that the Uyuni solonchak keeps a deep pool under its surface filled with thick salt blocks. A wonderful place is surrounded by mountains, and all the salt remains at the very bottom of the lake, the water of which contains magnesium chloride and lithium chloride.

Rich flora and fauna

The Uyuni solonchak (Bolivia) is devoid of any flora. If we talk about plants, then only giant cactuses make their way through the thickness of salt deposits. Growing up to 12 meters in a flat desert, they represent a truly fantastic sight. At the end of the year (for Bolivia this summer), the pink flamingos come wandering about the hard surface of the snow-white lake. Researchers know about 80 species of birds that inhabit the solonchak. A rather poor animal kingdom is represented by colonies of rodents.

Amazing hotels from salt

Now near the place where the Uyuni solonchak is located, there are unusual hotels that can not be seen in other parts of our planet. Built in the early 90's, hotels built of salt, offered all travelers who have overcome the distant path, relax in the rooms. Having learned about such an interesting innovation, tourists hastened to stay in unique hotels. However, later they were dismantled in connection with sanitary problems, but soon Uyuni (solonchak) replenished with a new modern hotel built on its outskirts in compliance with building standards and hygienic norms.

So the salt 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 the rooms and even clocks with sculptures are made. When placing in hotels with democratic prices for overnight accommodation all travelers are strictly warned: do not taste anything. However, so far few have resisted such a temptation. However, all who spend the night in this room note that salt remains literally everywhere: on clothes, hair and skin. Therefore, many prefer traditional hotels to exotic rest.

Local residents of the village

Enchanting beauty, the Uyuni salt lake shocks only foreigners with landscapes, and local people, who have grown accustomed to unusual species since childhood, have to work daily on the surface of the desert, extracting tons of salt. Fold it in neat little piles, which helps the water quickly evaporate, and subsequently such mounds are easy to transport. Many try to survive due to numerous tourist excursions, selling souvenirs (all kinds of crafts), which simply surprises the imagination of tourists with variety.

By the way, next to the solonchak is a small local museum, which features amazing figures of salt. And the residents' houses, located on the outskirts of the village, are built of this solid mineral. Tourists freeze in place from the stunning view of the cypress-white streets and houses against the backdrop of the same snow-white boundless field.

Uyuni solonchak: how to get there?

The 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 the civilization maintains a stable ecological situation.

To get to the unique point of the globe, you need to get to the same town of Uyuni by train, by plane or by bus. In a small settlement there is a huge number of tourist offices offering their services. If someone does not want to join an organized jeep tour, he can make an individual trip by car with a driver who will quickly drive to the desert.

The phenomenon of the sky underfoot

The season of downpours here takes place from November to March, and the temperature is kept at 22 degrees of heat. On days of heavy precipitation, excursions to the lake are suspended, as saline water can cause corrosion of cars. Despite the fact that the winter here is quite cool, it is the period June-August is a season for tourists from around the globe. The most beautiful phenomenon is when, after the rain, an amazing Uyuni solonchak is filled with a few centimeters of water. The photo of the mirror-like surface with the running clouds reflected on it causes genuine amazement to all who come across this phenomenal landscape for the first time.

Space seems to expand, and there is a visual illusion, in which it seems as if the earth is not under your feet, and the sky itself is thrown down. Visible borders in this place disappear, making us admire the natural sights of all who see the world inside out with their own eyes. Uyuni Solonchak, protected by mountains, is a quiet and peaceful place with a total absence of winds. For the sake of the spectacle of a shiny surface, travelers from all over the globe hurry to visit the enchantingly beautiful place.

True, many who come here experience an unpleasant state of dizziness and dyspnea associated with acclimatization. And a few days must pass before the body is completely used to being so high above sea level.

Abandoned train cemetery

However, before reaching the solonchak, all travelers visit another attraction of a small town, which was once the center of the country with the railway tracks passing here. The economic situation, which did not develop in the best way, led to a decrease in the incomes of the mining industry.

The railway in the city now resembles abandoned cars and locomotives in the salt desert, which has become a real cemetery of trains. Local authorities have repeatedly raised the issue of creating a museum on this site, as many abandoned to the mercy of fate for more than 100 years, and they are all now in a destroyed and rusted state. Unfortunately, no one is engaged in a cemetery under the open sky, and the issue of preserving the heritage remains open for a long time.

Tips for tourists

All those who set out on a long journey must take certain things with them, so that a trip to the solonchak of Uyuni (Bolivia) brings only positive emotions.

  • Moisturizing cream for permanently drying skin.
  • Sunglasses. There is so bright a light that it hurts the eyes.
  • Warm clothing, because even in the summer in the desert there are always cool evenings.
  • Sleeping bag for those who want to meet the dawn by the lake.
  • Rubber boots.
  • National flag. In front of the salt hotel there is a special area, inside which tourists leave the symbol of the country for memory.

Conclusion

Lake Uyuni (Bolivia) solonchak with extraterrestrial landscapes will always attract travelers wishing to walk along the deserted sky and enjoy in full unique views. The stunning boundless expanses will give vent to the imagination, and a quiet place will remain in your memory for a long time, like a very gigantic mirror, reflecting ever-hurrying clouds somewhere.

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