Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Uyuni, the salt desert

In the Bolivian plateau, in the Andes, Uyuni is at an altitude of 3,650 m, a salt ^desert of 12,000 km2, the largest in the world. 40,000 years ago there was a great lake in this place, and this spectacular salt flat was formed when the water evaporated from that lake.

The salt layer has a depth of 120 m; it is estimated to contain a total of 10 billion tons of salt. This salt is exploited: every year about 25,000 tons of salt are extracted, in addition to salt, as well as a large amount of boron, potassium, magnesium and lithium. Uyuni is one of the largest lithium reserves in the world.

This white desert is also a desirable destination for tourists. It is one of the most visited points in Bolivia, receiving 60,000 visits per year. The biggest influx of tourists is around November, as the rains of this period leave much of the salt flat covered with a thin layer of water. Then it looks magical. In addition, during this period the plain also becomes a breeding place for three species of flamingos. On the other hand, the giant cactus of the island of Isla del Pescado, located in the middle of the salt plain, of up to 10 meters, are spectacular.