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Salar de Uyuni: One of the World’s Largest Mirrors

No, it’s not a Photoshop trick! If you have been following us closely, then you may recall us mentioning Salar de Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) in our list of 41 Places To See Before You Die.

Salar de Uyuni (salar is salt flat in Spanish) is currently the world’s largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi). Actually, some 30,000–42,000 years ago, the area was part of a giant prehistoric lake, Lake Minchin. When it dried, it left behind two modern lakes and two major salt deserts, Salar de Coipasa and the larger Salar de Uyuni.

Located in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, it is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average altitude variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar. The large area, clear skies and exceptional surface flatness make the Salar an ideal object for calibrating the altimeters of Earth observation satellites.

When covered with water, this extraordinary place becomes one of the largest mirrors on Earth.

Images: dadi360, Takaki Watanabe

Source: wikipedia

Salar de Uyuni: One of the World's Largest Mirrors

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What do you think ?

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Ferona Jose 5 months ago

Salty but absolutely the best!

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Phil Rice 7 years ago

Plenty of water when you went - such a great time to go (also great when dry though) - the pictures are great but no photo can ever bring home 1 how amazing it is and 2. just how bright it is! Sunglasses are a must

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