The World's largest Mirror - Bolivia, South America
After the rain, a thin layer of still water turns the salt flats into the world's largest mirror! - an astonishing natural wonder....
Salar de Uyuni is located in Southwestern Bolivia and is the worlds largest salt flat - 4,000 square miles with an estimated 10 billion tones of salt!
During the dry season (May to November), it is a pristine white landscape that looks like an endless puzzle of hexagonal forms, which can be seen from space.
However, during the rainy season (December to April), the flats becomes the most amazing reflection surface. It is sometimes impossible to make out the horizon!
The best times to visit to see the mirror effect is March to April and have unlimited access to all sites then visit between July to October.
Really amazing and I can understand why it's such an Instagram hit.
When you visit this area, the flats are located at an altitude of 11,995 feet above sea level, so you will need time to become accustomed to the altitude. The salt lakes are home to wildlife such as an abundance of pink flamingos, andean foxes and rabbit-like rodents.
It is also recommended to see the sunset over the flats as the sky produces vivid colours against the white backdrop of the salt lakes - memorising....
To reach the lakes you can travel from either Peru, Chile or Argentina to Uyuni. The nearest towns to the salt lakes are La Paz, Tupiza and Uyuni and suggest travelling with a tour operator as they know the best routes.
During the day it is hot and sunny so wear shorts and t-shirts BUT lots of suntan lotion is required due to the reflection of the sun on the salt flats. However in the evening, jumpers and trousers are needed as it gets very cold when the sun disappears. Also flip flops are the choice of footwear due to the layer of water on the salt flats.
Whilst here take a visit to the train cemetery - a railway route did link Bolivia with Chile to carry gold, silver to the pacific port of Antogasta - with it's empty carriages and locomotives.
For a unique experience, why not stay in a salt hotel? Everything from the beds, walls and floors are constructed from large salt blocks. The most iconic hotel is the Palacio de Sal with igloo style dome bedrooms, swimming pool and a salty golf course. These hotels need to be rebuilt every 10-15 years as the rain disintegrates them over the years. Or glamp below the dormant volcano, Tunupa at Kachi Lodge which has a walkway to five private domes that offers amazing views across the salt lakes.
I certainly want to travel and enjoy everything this area has to offer...and take that instagram photograph!
There is concern about the salt flats as it has a quarter of the world's lithium metal that is located a few centimeters from the salt surface that is needed for the production of electric cars. This is a poor country and could potentailly bring jobs etc to the area but it would have a detrimental effect to the local people and landscape forever.
Learn more here: https://www.salardeuyuni.com/info/
