The salt lakes of Bolivia are nestled among spectacular mountain sceneries. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images )
Salt flats and lakes are commonly found in western Bolivia and northern Chile due to the arid climate of the area. The salt lakes of Bolivia, however, are anything but common, including the almost otherworldly scenery of Uyuni, the largest continuous salt desert in the world where a smooth blanket of white salt stretches as far as the eye can see. Both within the Uyuni desert and in other -- less visited -- locations, Bolivia offers a number of beautifully scenic salt lakes.
Laguna Verde, or green lagoon, gets its name from the deep color of its waters, produced by the copper deposits surrounding the salt lake. The lake sits at over 14,000 feet elevation on the foothills of the Licancabur volcano, creating a spectacular backdrop. Laguna Verde is part of the Uyuni desert system and the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. Tourists pay a park entrance fee to enter the area and most tours of the flats include a visit to the salt lake.
The waters of Laguna Colorada -- red lagoon -- are a dark brick red, produced by mineral deposits and algae in the lake. While the strange color of the lake makes it a peculiar site in itself, the main attraction in this area is the three species of flamingos that fill the lake to feed off the algae. Like Laguna Verde, Laguna Colorada is part of the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve and multi-day guided tours that depart from the city of Uyuni take tourists to both locations.
Located to the south of Uyuni, the Chiguana salt desert is a smaller system, but offers the same beautiful scenery without huge droves of tourists. When it rains in the area, the flats quickly flood, and a shallow lake forms over the entire area, reflecting the sky on the tranquil waters of the flat. Although the destination is less popular than Uyuni, numerous tour operators from the city of Uyuni offer guided tours and trips to Chiguana.
Coipasa is Bolivia's second largest salt desert, located to the north of Uyuni and centered around the Coipasa salt lake. The Coipasa lake is known for its calm turquoise waters -- a picturesque contrast with the surrounding white of the flats -- and the towering mountain of Cerro Villa Pucarani in the distance. The small town of Coipasa is the closest settlement, but lacks many tourist services, prompting most visitors to reach Coipasa on tours from the nearby city of Oruro.
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