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The Uyuni Salt Flat

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  Location: Southern Bolivia (Continent of South America)
• Created by: Created after the prehistoric salt lake Lago Machín dried up
• Date created: 25,000 to 10,000 years ago
• Size: It is about 4,050 sq mi (10,489 sq km) in size
• Weight: It contains roughly 12 billion tons (10 billion metric tons) of salt
• It is the world’s largest salt flat and the flattest area of land on Earth.
• When the area gets a little rain, it makes the salt flat look like a mirror
• GPS satellite companies will calibrate their satellites on the reflection when the salt flat has a mirrored look from the rain . These companies would typically use the ocean to help with their satellites.
• Part of the salt flat can be about 30 ft (9 m) thick.
• The towns surrounding do mine the salt flat for its salt, and you can buy it at local supermarkets.
• There is also lithium (a type of metal used for batteries) under the top layer of salt. Geologists estimate that about 30%-60% of the world’s supply is here.
• When this area was a lake, evidence showed that snails, algae, mollusks, and micro animals once lived there.
• There are about 35 islands throughout the area. The most famous island is called Isla Incahuasi. Isla Inchuasi has cacti and fossils of coral that are thousands of years old. You can also take a tour of the island.
• There is also an abandoned train graveyard. This graveyard is where hundreds of old trains and carriages go after they are no longer useable. You can climb on the trains, and there is even a swing.
• Right on the edge of the salt flats is a hotel constructed of salt. You can rent a room here and get guided tours of the flats.