Salar de Uyuni: The world’s largest salt flat
We have all heard of geographical formations such as mountains, lakes, valleys and canyons. But have you heard about salt flats? Can you imagine acres upon acres of pristine, shining white ground covered in salt? Well, salt flats or natural salt pans are exactly that - extensive flat areas of ground which are covered in salt and other minerals. When you see one, it appears as though they are shining in the sun, like a mirage! These natural formations are usually seen in deserts. Examples of some famous salt flats around the world are Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, The Etosha Pan in Kenya’s Etosha National Park, and the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, India. But do you know which is the largest salt flat in the world? Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat housed in Bolivia, South America and is thought to be formed during prehistoric times!
Salar de Uyuni: An overview
The Salar de Uyuni lies in the Potosi region of Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes mountains. It stretches over 10,500 kilometers and is situated 11,995 feet above sea level. This salt flat is part of the Altiplano of Bolivia. The Altiplano is a high plateau formed during the upliftment of the Andes mountains.
The Salar de Uyuni was formed as a result of transformations that occurred in prehistoric lakes over 40,000 years ago. The water in the lakes evaporated over time. It is estimated that there is almost 11 billion tons of salt in Salar de Uyuni! Can you believe that?
The flats are covered with salt crust a few meters thick. Some salt flats in the center are up to 10 meters thick. The crust is exceptionally rich in lithium. Researchers also say that these untapped reserves of lithium underneath the surface is enough to power every device you own! Talk about a natural power bank that never runs out!
Quick fact: The name comes from two words: ‘Salar’ meaning salt flat in Spanish, while ‘uyuni’ meaning an enclosure in Aymara , a local Bolivian language.
The world’s largest mirror
During the dry season, the salt flat is well, flat, but it is the monsoons that make for a spectacular visual delight here. During the rainy season, the salt flats get covered with a thin layer of water. This calm layer of water provides a stunning reflection of the sky making it the world’s largest mirror! Talk about mirror, mirror on the wall! This one’s right on the floor ranging across 129 kilometers! As if this visual treat was not enough, the Salar de Uyuni also is a breeding ground for over 80 species of birds including the gorgeous flamingoes!
Salar de Uyuni has been used as a filming location for many Hollywood movies such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), The Fall (2022), and Salt and Fire (2016), among others.
Furthermore, the large expanse and the flatness of the area make it an ideal location for calibrating the altimeters of the Earth’s observational satellites. NASA often uses this place to pinpoint the exact location of the satellites.
So if you were thinking what use are these huge salt lands, you have your answer!