Bolivian Altiplano
Salt Mounds - Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
These mounds are piles of drying salt. Underneath them sits the 10,000 square km Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat. At at altitude of 3,600 m (11,800 ft), the Salar is the remnant of an ancient inland sea.
During the wet season a thin layer of water covers the flat, causing reflections and optical illusions.BoliviaSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatsiBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Salt Mounds - Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
These mounds are piles of drying salt. Underneath them sits the 10,000 square km Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat. At at altitude of 3,600 m (11,800 ft), the Salar is the remnant of an ancient inland sea.
During the wet season a thin layer of water covers the flat, causing reflections and optical illusions.BoliviaSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatsBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Got Salt?
Dale standing atop 10,000 square km of salt!BoliviaDale BaskinSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatsBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Salar de Uyuni - Tourist Destination
The Salar de Uyuni is a popular tourist destination for travelers from around the world as seen by these flags.BoliviaSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatsBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Salt Hotel
The building in this photo is a hotel made entirely of salt. The salt flat is several meters deep, and locals cut blocks from it for use in construction. Entire buildings are routinely built from salt bricks.BoliviaPaul HanleyRita BarrySalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatssalt hotelBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Salt Hotel
Inside the hotel everything is made of salt bricks.BoliviaSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatssalt hotelBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
There are very few visual references to help the brain, resulting in strange scenes and optical illusions.BoliviaSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatsBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Salt Flat Reflection
A thin layer of water on top of the salt flat provides a mirror-like reflection all the way to the horizon.BoliviaJohn HarbordSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatsBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Guitar and Salt - Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
BoliviaguitarSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni toursaltsalt flatsBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Valley of the Rocks
The name pretty much says it all. Note that these Toyota Land Cruisers spent more time with their hoods up than down.
Church on Bolivian Altiplano
Church on Bolivian Altiplano
Volcano and Plateau
Volcanoes seem to pop up all over this part of Bolivia. Just for reference, the plateau is over 4,000 m (13,100 ft.). The volcano is obviously quite a bit taller.
Emma heads back to the Land Cruiser
BoliviaEmma JohnsonSalar de Uyuni tourBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Flamingos at 4,000 m
Most people think of flamingos as tropical birds that live in places like Miami. It turns out they are right at home in the freezing highlands of Bolivia as well.BoliviaflamingosSalar de Uyuni tourBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Arbol de Piedra
The famous Arbol de Piedro, or "Tree of Stone". That's Dale underneath.arbol de piedraBoliviaDale BaskinSalar de Uyuni tourBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Jeep Tracks - Bolivia
There are no roads in this part of Boliva. They just don't exist. Drivers cross the high mountain desert anywhere they wish.
Salvador Dali Desert
Salvador Dali Desert
A photo of Dale taking a photo.
Volcano and Salt Flat - Bolivia
A volcano rises behind a 4,000 m high salt flat.
Red Lake and Borax Dunes
This whole part of the world makes you feel like you're walking through a Salvador Dali painting. The red lake is surrounded by giant dunes of borax that go on for miles.Boliviaborax dunesred lakeSalar de Uyuni tourBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Emma, Rita, and Paul Enjoy the Borax Dunes
Boliviaborax dunesEmma Johnsonred lakeRita BarrySalar de Uyuni tourBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Dale testing steam from deep within the Earth
BoliviaDale BaskingeisersgeysersSalar de Uyuni toursteam ventsvolcanismvolcanoBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Bubbling Cauldrons of Mud, Bolivia
The freezing environment at 4,500 m (14,700 ft) insures lots of steam from volcano-fueled cauldrons of boiling mud.BoliviaEmma JohnsongeisersgeysersSalar de Uyuni toursteam ventsvolcanismvolcanoBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Volcanic Terrain and Steam Vents - Bolivian Andes
The freezing environment at 4,500 m (14,700 ft) insures lots of steam from these volcanic vents.BoliviaEmma JohnsongeisersgeysersSalar de Uyuni tourSarah Marstonsteam ventsvolcanismvolcanoBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Volcanic Terrain and Steam Vents
The freezing environment at 4,500 m (14,700 ft) insures lots of steam from these volcanic vents.BoliviageisersgeysersSalar de Uyuni toursteam ventsvolcanismvolcanoBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Emma enjoys sunrise at 4,500 m
BoliviaEmma JohnsongeisersgeysersSalar de Uyuni toursteam ventsvolcanismvolcanoBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Volcanic Steam Vent at Sunrise
The freezing environment at 4,500 m (14,700 ft) insures lots of steam from these volcanic vents.BoliviageisersgeysersSalar de Uyuni toursteam ventsvolcanismvolcanoBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Natural Hot Springs - Bolivian Andes
These natural hot springs above 4000 m are a welcome treat after several days stuck in a Land Cruiser. It's just like a hot tub.Boliviahot springsSalar de Uyuni tourBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
John checking out Lincancabur Volcano
Lincancabur Volcano (5,900 m, 19,400 ft) sits on the border between Bolivia and Chile. It's crater holds one of the highest lakes in the world.BoliviaJohn HarbordLicancabur volcanoSalar de Uyuni tourBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Bolivia-Chile Border
This is probably one of the most desolate border crossings you will find anywhere in the world.
The whole crew: Emma, Paul, Rita, Sarah, John, Dale
BoliviaDale BaskinEmma JohnsonJohn HarbordRita BarrySalar de Uyuni tourSarah MarstonBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Sarah, Emma, Rita, and Paul in the Land Cruiser
BoliviaEmma JohnsonSalar de Uyuni tourSarah MarstonBolivian HighlandsAltiplano
Croca Crola?
It's very common in third world countries to find knock-offs of brand name products, but this is one of the most interesting ones I have seen. This sign was on the outside of a little shop in a tiny village where we stayed on night.
