Salt Lake Atacama

 

The Salt Lake Atacama is the biggest salt deposit in Chile. It is formed by a depressed area without exit for the water coming in from the river San Pedro de Atacama and various canyons that filter the water from the Cordillera.

 

The salt flat is about 300.000 square kilometers big and can be apreciated it it's totality as the air is clear and completely dry. Nevertheless, this amazing visibility dirsturbs one's  estimation of distance.

 

San Pedro de Atacama Tours

 

The air in this region is incredibly dry which is why it offers perfect transparency. As the salt crust has opened in some areas, small lagoons were created. They now are the habitat for birds, especially flamingos, taguas and guallatas. One of the most important lagoons is the lagoon Chaxa.

 

In the middle of a beautiful natural paradise the salt lake contains important archaeological sites and an impressive geology. Covered by a white sheet, the Salt Lake Atacama allows some blue lagoons to exist on its surface, adding to the mystery of the desert.

 

It is considered an exceptional living environment and one of the most beautiful places of the zone to observe the sunset behind the mountains. If you visit this site, you will have the opportunity to admire a great variety of flamingos and other birds that have found their natural habitat with the salt lake. 

 

The three species you can observe here are the Andean Flamingo, the Chilean Flamingo and the Flamingo James. The guides of the region can give you and insight of how to distinguish the different species.

 

Below the salt lake there is a hidden lake, covered by a thick and rough salt crust mixed with the dust of the desert. The surface contains one of the biggest reserves of lithium of the world, a mineral used in some highly technological industries. It is extracted in the southern part of the salt flat.