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photo by Soledad Márquez
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The Salar lies around 40 miles (60 kilometers)
south of San Pedro. The large salt flat houses a series of lagoons
that provide a breeding ground for three species of flamingos
and habitat for other species of birds. view
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The Salar de Atacama, Chile´s largest salt deposit, lies
about 40 miles (60 kilometers) to the south of San Pedro and occupies
an area of over 6,000 square miles (about 15,620 square kilometers)
at an altitude of greater than 7,500 feet (2,305 meters) above sea
level. The Salar is a large salt flat located in an area that was
once the southern shore of a vast inland sea.
Many parts of the Salar are characterized by a rough, brittle white
crust that crunches underfoot. The crust is formed by the constant
accumulation of layers of salt crystals produced by the evaporation
of subterranean waters with high saline content. The water rises
through natural underground channels to a series of lagoons.
The process of evaporation makes many shapes, with layers of rugged
chlorides rising up to 30 inches (70 centimeters) in height, a transitional
chloride layer forming polygonal structures, and a sulfuric layer
originating in dry, flat areas. The Salar contains 40 percent of
the world´s reserves of lithium, and also contains potassium,
borax, and other salts.
The sporadic lagoons that dot the surface of the Salar are fed by
a great underground lake that, in turn, derives its waters from
runoff from the Andes mountains to the east. Although salt flats
are known to represent one of the greatest obstacles to plant and
animal life on the planet, the Atacama lagoons provide a breeding
ground for three types of flamingos and a habitat for other birds,
such as Andean gulls, parinas, and ducks.
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photo by Soledad Márquez
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The Salar de Atacama is characterized
by a large expanse of brittle salt crystals that crunch
underfoot. The crystals form from the evaporation of saline
subterranean waters. enlarge
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Salar Flamingos
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