Salar de Uyuni is one of South America’s most phenomenal attractions. It is located in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí, in southwest Bolivia.  

This spectacular landscape lies at an elevation of 3,656 meters (11,995 feet) above sea level, near the crest of the Andes mountain range. It is a gigantic desert formed by several layers of white, glistening salt that are sandwiched between sedimentary deposits that reach a great depth of 10 meters (32.80 feet) in the center of the flat. The desert stretches across 10,582 kilometers (6,575 miles/4,086 square miles) of the Altiplano and can even be seen from space. According to astronauts, the Salar de Uyuni is the most reflective point on planet Earth and a blank canvas used by various space agencies around the world to calibrate satellites and reduce positioning errors.

In total there is an estimated 10 billion tons of salt here. However, the real treasure lies beneath the salt flat, where approximately 70% of the world’s lithium reserves can be found: an entire industry has been devoted to the extraction of this light metal which is responsible for powering laptops, smartphones, and electric cars. 

On a still day, a thin layer of water covering the salt transforms the salt flat into “the world’s largest mirror” reflecting the sky. This marvelous reflection of the sky is most likely to be seen during the rainy season, which is from December to April. According to many people who have had the opportunity to visit this desert, it’s very difficult to distinguish where the sky ends and the land begins. 

Excluding the cacti-filled islands, “Isla Incahuasi” and “Isla del Pescado,” the landscape is completely flat, which creates an endless horizon that is optimal for all sorts of crazy perspective photos. From the remarkable mirror effect and perspective photos to the numerous natural wonders surrounding the landscape, it is no wonder that this part of the world is regarded as a paradise for photographers. 

The Salar has also been used as a filming location for movies such as The Fall (2006), Salt and Fire (2016), The Unseen (2017), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), and several others. 

To learn more about this incredible place, visit: https://www.salardeuyuni.com/info/