Salar de Uyuni from Bolivia is the world’s largest salt flat. It’s unusual to come across a salt flat, and even more unusual to walk upon a salt flat that is worth ten thousand square kilometers like Salar de Uyuni. Salt flats are special because they are created after drying up for thousands of years. Salt flats start out as lakes and with the arid climate (these climates promote evaporation over precipitation), and the abundance of salt deposits that remain in those lakes. The salt eventually take over the top layer of the surface and turn the landmark into the long white flat area of land that we know of today.

Nicknamed “the biggest mirror in the world,” because of the heavenish illusion it creates with its salty surface. Even though the surface is riddled with salt. During the rainy season in Bolivia (November to March), the drops of rain accumulate water on the surface of the salt flat creating a reflection of the sky making it seem like you are standing among the skies. This mystifying sight has been included in many pieces of pop culture like Star Wars, and Demon Slayer.

Salar de Uyuni is a part of the Altiplano plateau. This plateau hosts many other salt flats, and the Andes Mountains which are believed to be the main contributors to how these salt flats came to be. Around 30,000 to 42,000 years ago in the Altiplano plateau, there was one big lake named Lake Minchin. It is believed that Lake Minchin began to dry up due to a lack of precipitation and no outlet (the Andes Mountains isolated the lake from other water sources to rehydrate itself), and became the series of smaller lakes and dry areas that we know of today.

Salar de Uyuni is significant not only because of its large size, and beautiful view but also because of the large breeding ground it provides for pink flamingos. It’s also a transportation route through the Altiplano and has an abundance of minerals such as sodium, potassium, lithium and magnesium. Since Bolivia is a poor country it must fight itself every day to not mine these materials. Especially with the new age of electric cars, computers, and other similar devices. The demand for lithium increases significantly the more as time passes. If Bolivia caved in, and decided to mine the huge sources of lithium found beneath Salar de Uyuni, the country would become incredibly rich, and be a very important trader in global affairs. This wouldn’t be a complete victory for Bolivia though because if they did go through with this. The mining would destroy the look of the salt flats, and make them lose the mesmerizing radiance it has. As of today Bolivia refuses to mine into the salt flats to protect its natural land even if the outcome would significantly benefit the country. Although there might be a time when Bolivia will be forced to destroy this sacred land. The knowledge of knowing what Bolivia is sacrificing to keep this natural land alive makes the view even more beautiful.