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Bolivian Natural Wonder Spotlight
Salar de Uyuni (Salt Flats)
The Bolivian Salt Flats are one of the top tourist attraction in Bolivia; located in the southwestern state of Potosí. The
remains of an ancient lake that dried up between 11,500 and 13,400 years ago, the salt desert is considered the largest in the world, covering over 12,000 square kilometers and estimated to contain over 10 billon tons of salt. The salt flats are considered
one of the top wonders of the world by Lonely Plant Travel as visitors experience the vast, serene landscape that stretches to what looks likes the ends of the earth. Tourists explain the feeling of
losing the perspective of where the sky ends and the land covered with a thin layer of water begins. Although it is far from any major cities, hotels have been constructed in the area for tourists, many of the which are made almost entirely from salt blocks
cut from the flats, offering a unique experience for visits.
Not only is this area a jaw-dropping natural wonder, it is rich in natural resources. Each year 25,000 tons are extracted from the area and exported to places around the world. Along with this, the area contains 140 tons of lithium -- which accounts for 7%
of the world's known lithium resources -- that is extracted and exported by the Bolivian government. The Bolivian government is very careful to allow exploitation by foreign corporations to protect the area and due to pushback from the local community. Due
to the size and stable surface of the area, NASA uses the salt flats to calibrate satellites.
Source: https://www.boliviabella.com/bolivia-salt-flats.html
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