PACK FOR THE SUN: Despite the cold, the sun is very strong at this altitude. Make sure to also bring a pair of sturdy shoes as the salt is very corrosive. Bolivia tends to have a very moderate temperature in summer, the Salar is even chillier than most places so pack a lot of warm clothes (hats, gloves, sweaters, and thermals if you plan on spending the night). PACK FOR THE COLD: You will need a daypack for visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats. What to pack when exploring the salt flats What this means for the future of the Bolivian Salar de Uyuni is anyone’s guess. When we recently visited, it was confirmed to us by government officials that the previously halted plans to build Lithium factories had been approved. Altitude and arid air evaporated the water, leaving behind a thick crust of salt beneath which lies 70% of the world’s Lithium reserves, a crucial building block in electric batteries.Īs demand for rechargeable batteries grows, so does the need for Lithium. Thirty thousand years ago, the Salar was an enormous lake. She floods the plain with milk to ensure the child has enough to eat.Īs enticing as these fables are, the true facts about the Salar de Uyuni and how it came to be might be even more interesting. Another popular tale speaks of the mountain goddess Yana Pollera sending her child away as two suitors (Thunupa and Q’osqo) fight over paternity.

Her tears and breastmilk mingled creating the Salar de Uyuni. Many a tale has been spun about the origins of the Salar, they seem to have one thing in common, the protagonist is seemingly always a heartbroken mother.Īccording to Aymaran legend, the goddess Tunupa was left by her husband Kusku while breastfeeding their child. According to legend, the mountains surrounding the Bolivian salt flats were once giant people.

Utah salt flats mirror night