Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth, covering approximately 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 square miles).
It is located in the southwestern part of Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes at an elevation of about 3,656 meters (11,995 feet) above sea level.
Key Features:
Geological Origin: Salar de Uyuni was formed as a result of the gradual evaporation of prehistoric lakes, primarily
Lake Minchin, which once covered the area. Over thousands of years, layers of salt and minerals were left behind.
Endorheic Basin: It is an endorheic basin, meaning it has no outlet to rivers or oceans, so water only leaves through evaporation, concentrating the salts.
Salt Crust: The flat has a crust of salt up to 10 meters thick, beneath which lies a brine rich in lithium, making the area a major source of this important mineral.
Mirror Effect: During the rainy season (usually December to April), a thin layer of water can cover the salt flat, creating a perfect mirror effect that reflects the sky, making it a surreal and otherworldly landscape.
Tourism and Culture: Salar de Uyuni is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors for its unique landscape, natural beauty, and the famous train graveyard near the town of Uyuni.
It is located in the southwestern part of Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes at an elevation of about 3,656 meters (11,995 feet) above sea level.
Key Features:
Geological Origin: Salar de Uyuni was formed as a result of the gradual evaporation of prehistoric lakes, primarily
Lake Minchin, which once covered the area. Over thousands of years, layers of salt and minerals were left behind.
Endorheic Basin: It is an endorheic basin, meaning it has no outlet to rivers or oceans, so water only leaves through evaporation, concentrating the salts.
Salt Crust: The flat has a crust of salt up to 10 meters thick, beneath which lies a brine rich in lithium, making the area a major source of this important mineral.
Mirror Effect: During the rainy season (usually December to April), a thin layer of water can cover the salt flat, creating a perfect mirror effect that reflects the sky, making it a surreal and otherworldly landscape.
Tourism and Culture: Salar de Uyuni is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors for its unique landscape, natural beauty, and the famous train graveyard near the town of Uyuni.
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth, covering approximately 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 square miles).
It is located in the southwestern part of Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes at an elevation of about 3,656 meters (11,995 feet) above sea level.
Key Features:
Geological Origin: Salar de Uyuni was formed as a result of the gradual evaporation of prehistoric lakes, primarily
Lake Minchin, which once covered the area. Over thousands of years, layers of salt and minerals were left behind.
Endorheic Basin: It is an endorheic basin, meaning it has no outlet to rivers or oceans, so water only leaves through evaporation, concentrating the salts.
Salt Crust: The flat has a crust of salt up to 10 meters thick, beneath which lies a brine rich in lithium, making the area a major source of this important mineral.
Mirror Effect: During the rainy season (usually December to April), a thin layer of water can cover the salt flat, creating a perfect mirror effect that reflects the sky, making it a surreal and otherworldly landscape.
Tourism and Culture: Salar de Uyuni is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors for its unique landscape, natural beauty, and the famous train graveyard near the town of Uyuni.


