Heaven On Earth

Heaven on Earth: Amazing salt flats where
the sky and ground merge into one to create

dreamy landscapes
By Daily Mail Reporter
Updated: 10:01 GMT, 18 August 2011
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Who knows what awaits when St Peter lets us through those pearly gates. But
perhaps influenced by the odd film or two, this is the sort of view of heaven
many will have in mind.
Its almost impossible to distinguish in these dream-like landscapes where the
sky ends and the ground begins.
And with the addition of a few figures praying and dancing, even a few cars
rumbling through, they take on an outer-worldly feel.
Popular spot: Tourists have been visiting the area for years, and can stay in homes cut off from
the modern world
Mirror image: This tourist visiting the South American region is reflected in the salt flats, which
are over 3,000m above sea level
Volcanic region: The Tunupa volcano can be seen in the background as these cars negotiate the
flats
But they are of course taken here on Earth, in Bolivia's Uyuni salt flats to be
precise.
The flats, located in Southern Bolivia near the country's Tunupa volcano make
up the world's largest salt desert, around 11,000 km sq.
That makes it even larger than Lake Titicaca, the vast stretch of water shared by
Bolivia and neighbouring Peru.
Mirror image: It is hard to tell where the lakes end and the clouds begin in this beautiful image
Power: The lithium in the area makes up half the world's supply and is used in batteries for
mobile phones and computers, as well as being a key element in electric cars
Stunning: The salt flats themselves are 3,600m above sea level in the Andes - making it almost
possible, it seems, to reach up and touch the clouds from the ground
And the salt flats themselves are 3,600m above sea level in the Andes - making
it almost possible, it seems, to reach up and touch the clouds from the ground.
The area has long been popular with tourists, particularly those looking for a
holiday with a difference.
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Visitors to the area can take in the vast white expanse of salt and the stunning
surrounding vistas, while staying with locals in an area which feels cut off from
the modern world.
Distant: This hiker is just a dot in the distance in the beautiful salt lakes
Out of this world: Bolivia's Uyuni salt flats are spectacular
Hypnotic: The flats, located in Southern Bolivia near the country's Tunupa volcano make up the
world's largest salt desert, around 11,000 km sq
Stunning: The hexagons in this landscape evolved after the salt pan, near Bolivia's Volcano
Tunupa, had dried up
At dusk: Photographed at twilight, the dried up salt pans appear blue in colour
For just $15 a day, tourists can lodge with peasant families in homes without
running water or electricity - and outhouses used as bathrooms.
But despite the loss of home comforts, they can join in with local activities such as the annual llama-shearing season in August, or joining llama caravans
that deliver salt blocks to remote villages in exchange for food and other goods.
Although tourists have long been visiting the area, it wasn't until around five
years ago that interest grew in extracting the 5.4m tons of lithium which is
found just below the surface of the salt.
The lithium in the area makes up half the world's supply and is used in batteries
for mobile phones and computers, as well as being a key element in electric
cars.
The impact of mining on the tourism industry remains uncertain.
However it has yet to deter tourists from staying with the locals in Atulcha,
Villamar and San Juan, all located around the salt flats.
'There is great interest in community tourism, to live with the people in the
countryside, and even join them in their meals," said Rosa Perez, who heads the
Uyuni regional tourism board.
'The communities have set up a few rooms with beds to be able to live with the
visitors.'
Exact location: Bolivia is home to the salt flats, while a NASA satellite pic shows the area from
above
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2027166/Bolivias-salt-flats-sky-groundmerge-like-heaven-Earth.html#ixzz4KXvaEdbx
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Heaven on Earth: Amazing salt flats where

the sky and ground merge into one to create

Swan fake: Clouds resemble feathered flock taking flight...

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Out of this world: Bolivia's Uyuni salt flats are spectacular

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