WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT BOLIVIA'S SKY MIRROR

[Judi Lynn]

BY LUANA FERREIRA/AUG. 3, 2021 4:37 PM EDT

Few places in the world are as impressive as the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. Over 2 miles above sea level, the largest salt flat in the world has approximately 4,250 square miles, CNN reports. According to Netstate, this is nearly the same size as Connecticut. Given its massive size, it's unsurprising that Neil Armstrong mistook the flat for an enormous glacier when he saw it from space, per CGTN.

Bolivia's Sky Mirror was once a lake bed that dried up thousands of years ago, leaving a large extension of salt and other minerals, according to ThoughtCo. Nowadays, it attracts approximately 60,000 tourists every year, who often indulge in a three-day tour of the area. Curious visitors must make the journey via unpaved roads and sleep in hotels built entirely of salt after arriving at their destination.

Despite what you might imagine, the Salar de Uyuni landscape is an explosion of colors. There's the Red Lagoon, with its pinkish waters and countless flamingos, as well as the Green Lagoon. Elsewhere, there are geysers and an island with giant cacti, BBC reports. It is easy to understand why people are so fascinated by the magnificent salt flats in this Bolivian natural wonder.

HOW SALAR DE UYUNI WAS FORMED



There are two explanations for how the Salar de Uyuni was formed. Current research suggests that 40,000 years ago, the region was covered by Lake Minchin, which was filled with water from the multiple mountains surrounding the area. As the water volume decreased amid a rise in temperatures, the giant Lake Minchin gave way to countless smaller prehistoric lakes. Over the years, the water slowly evaporated, leaving behind the impressive salt flats created by the high salinity levels in the water that lies beneath.

More:
https://www.grunge.com/477818/what-you-might-not-know-about-bolivias-sky-mirror/

~ ~ ~