World's Largest Salt Flat - Salar De Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni is a salt flat located in the Potosi and Oruro departments of southwest Bolivia. Salar is a Spanish word translating into "salt flat," and Uyuni is Spanish for "enclosure." As part of the Andes, the Salar is located at 11,995 feet (3,656 m) above sea level. Created from the transformation of several lakes, the salt crust of the Salar de Uyuni has no more than three feet (1 m) in altitude variation.

 

Statistically speaking, Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world accounting for 4,086 square miles (10,582 sq km). The crust is comprised of salt and covers a sea of brine that ranges from 7 to 66 feet (2 to 20 m) deep. Collectively, the Salar de Uyuni accounts for between 50 to 70% of the world's lithium reserves. Its white surface and bright blue sky sometimes can make incredible scenes for viewers especially during the wet season when those salt fields are covered with water, then, this place looks like a huge mirror.

 

 

Local people are telling the ancient legend about this place which says that this field was created when the Giantess Tunupa cried while breastfeeding her child after she was abandoned by her husband Kushku and this place has formed as a product of her tears mixed with her breast milk. That is why this place is also known by its other name, Salar de Tunupa.

 

 

Source :- http://www.unbelievableinfo.com/2013/12/worlds-largest-salt-flat-salar-de-uyuni.html