The Salar de Uyuni is a spectacle like no other. In the distance, an immense mirror appears, reflecting the intense blue of the sky, an illusion that intensifies the closer as we get. But it’s not until we reach the edge of the salt flat that the true extent of its beauty is revealed: an infinite white mantle made up of 10 billion tonnes of salt.
At an altitude of 3 600 metres, this salt desert, the largest in the world, covers an area of 10 582 square kilometres, a territory that seems to have no end. It’s 120 metres deep, made up of layers of salt between one and ten metres thick, interspersed with layers of mud.
The brine, rich in lithium, boron, magnesium, potassium and other elements, is a major economic driver for the region, with around 25 tonnes extracted annually. The Salar is also home to the world’s largest lithium reserve, although extraction is hampered by water scarcity. However, this also protects the Salar from economic interests.
In our case, there was enough water. The rainy season provided an additional spectacle: a thin layer of water covered the salt surface, transforming the landscape into an even more perfect mirror. However, this water also posed a challenge, as it softens the salt layer and can cause vehicles to sink. In fact, we witnessed a truck being pulled out for hours.
Cautiously and following the instructions of the tour operators, we ventured across the salt flats, occasionally dodging “salt eyes”, salt water wells that spring up due to evaporation. Finally, we arrived safely at the Dakar monument, where we decided to spend the night.
The sunset was an unforgettable spectacle, and the sunrise in the middle of the salt flat, without tourists, a moment of peace despite the cold.
