Uyuni is all about SALT. Not only is salt important as a commercial product for the people of Uyuni, (remember oo-you-nee) it has become an important destination for international traveler's. The main salt flat is about 100km squared. The salt flats of Uyuni are the largest in the world.
Salt flats are dried-up desert lakes. They form in closed hollows where rainfall can’t drain away. In a wet climate, a lake would form but, in a desert, the water is heated and evaporates into vapour faster than it is replenished by rain. The salt and minerals dissolved in the water are left behind as a solid layer. When you look at a block of salt you can tell the climatic conditions that were prevalent during its formation. Kind of like the growth rings of a tree trunk. The brownish lines in a block of salt tell of windy and dusty conditions that added particles of dirt to the formation of that years salt accumulation.
Many shops/stalls near the entrance sold lots of ticky/tacky salt souvenirs. Also amoungest them were a few factories producing salt for local consumption.
Hotel of the Salt Moon - Hotel de Sal Luna Salada
No better way to get a good nights sleep before we explored the worlds largest salt flats then to stay in one of South Americas most unique hotels - Hotel de Sal Luna Salada. This hotel is made of 100% salt, really. The hotels four star accommodations made this a real luxury for us. Much, much more simple accommodations awaited us once we headed back into the desert. The hallways were crushed salt. Check out the photos - amazing.`
Salinas Uyuni - Salt Flats of Uyuni
This is the view out the window of the Hotel de Luna Sal Salada - the beginning of the worlds largest salt flats. It had rained recently and there was about 3 inches of water on top of the hard packed salt. The rain would make taking photographs - extra special. Check out my next post and photos of our time on the salt flats - probably the most unique photos I have ever taken.
