January 24, 2024 | Sammy Tran

20 Unbelievable Facts About The Mirror of the Sky


Sky Mirror, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, often dubbed “Mirror of the Sky”, is one of the most fascinating and unique natural wonders in the world.

Tourists from all over the globe head to Bolivia specifically for this captivating destination.

From salt hotels, a train graveyard, gigantic cacti, and unsuspecting wildlife, this otherworldly location is sure to top your bucket list.

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The Mirror Effect

Slar de Uyuni is a large salt flat—an area of land covered with a crust of salt left by evaporation of water.

When water accumulates on the surface it creates a giant mirror effect that perfectly reflects the sky and clouds above.The Salar de Uyuni (Mirror of the Sky) at Oruro & Potosí, Bolivia - (2019)Elias Rovielo, Flickr

The Horizon

Due to the lack of horizon, the mirror effect gives off an optical illusion that looks absolutely incredible, drawing the attention of tourists and photographers looking for a truly unbelievable sight.

It is best seen during the rainy season—November to March—when it is covered in a thin layer of water which is optimal for reflection.Salar de uyuni salt lake in Bolivia.Sarah Zezulka, Shutterstock

World Record

Salar de Uyuni is considered the world largest salt flat on Earth, covering over 10,000 square kilometers (3, 900 square miles).

It sits at a high altitude of about 3, 656 meters (11, 995 feet) above sea level, which can make some tourists sick from the altitude.The Salar de Uyuni (Mirror of the Sky) at Oruro & Potosí, Bolivia.Elias Rovielo, Flickr

The Formation of the Salt Flat

The massive salt flat was created roughly 40,000 years ago when several giant prehistoric lakes had evaporated, leaving behind salt and minerals.

The largest lake was Lake Minchin.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, the largest salt flat in the world.ckchiu, Shutterstock

Climate

The area has a relatively stable average temperature with a peak at 21 °C (70 °F) in November to January, and a low of 13 °C (55 °F) in June.

The nights are cold all through the year, with temperatures between −9 and 5 °C (16 and 41 °F).

Rainfall is also low. Even in the rainy season the number of rainy days is fewer than 5 per month.

Salar_de_Uyumi_-_Flickr_-_SqueakyMarmotMike, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Salt

The salt crust can be as deep as 10 meters (33 feet) in some places.

Bolivia produces a large amount of salt from this flat, which is then used for various purposes, such as table salt.

People walking at Salar de Uyuni (Mirror of the Sky) at Oruro & Potosí, Bolivia.Elias Rovielo, Flickr

Salt Hotels

Tourists who come to the area can stay at stunning salt hotels in a nearby village called Colchani.

Lunda Salada Hotel remains a top tourist favorite and is known as a secluded retreat for adventure. It is made almost entirely of salt.

Luna Salada Hotel - 2017Vaido Otsar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Salt Extraction

Salt is extracted daily from Salar de Uyuni for both local needs as well as international exports. Locals still manually extract salt from the flat using traditional methods for personal use.

Salt isn’t the only thing that Salar de Uyuni is rich in, though.

Salt miner at Salar de Uyuni working - 2009Jimmy Harris, Flickr

Lithium Reserves

Salar de Uyuni is estimated to hold about 5.4 million tonnes of lithium. This accounts for about 70% of the world’s known lithium reserves—a key element in batteries, but also used in lenses, spaceships, and medication.

Bolivia in general has 21 million tonnes of lithium, which is more than any other country in the world.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, the largest salt flat in the world - 2009Elias Rovielo, Flickr

Wildlife

Salar de Uyuni is often described as one of the earth’s “sparsest landscapes”, as it is inhospitable to many species.

However, this isn’t true for all—it is home to several species of flamingos that feed in the saltwater lakes. Visitors can often see huge flocks congregating on the shiny lake.

As well, herds of vicunas like to watch tourists from the hills.

Flamingos in Laguna Hedionda located near the Uyuni Salt Flat (Salar de Uyuni) in BoliviaLoredana Habermann, Shutterstock

Geometric Patterns

When the salt is dry, it forms natural hexagonal patterns that look like a giant mosaic. The vast landscape is scattered with salt mounds—a result of the cracking of the salty surface.

These mounds stretch for as far as you can see, adding to the surreal atmosphere of the magical landscape.

Person standing in salt lake during colorful sunset.Einstock, Shutterstock

Remote Location

Salar de Uyuni is a remote area, so visitors should plan their trips carefully and be prepared for limited amenities.

The small nearby village of Colchani is one of the only populated places in the area due to the harsh conditions. It has a small population of only 600 people.

Sunrise on Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia covered with water, car and man in salt flat desert and sky reflections.JaySi, Shutterstock

Colchani

The small village of Colchani relies on salt-processing, using the salt and minerals from Salar de Uyuni. It is the largest salt-processing cooperative in Bolivia.

Tourists can stop here and purchase handicrafts made of salt, and textile art made of llama and alpaca, making it the perfect place to buy authentic Bolivian souvenirs.

Colchani vilage at Salar de Uyuni - 2012Nico Kaiser, Flickr

The Salt Museum

Also in the village of Colchani is the Salt Museum—a tiny space made of salt bricks that holds a multitude of hand carved salt sculptures.

It isn’t a typical museum, as it is fairly small and only takes about 5-10 minutes to see everything. But it makes for some magical photographs!

Salt museum at Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia - 2009Jimmy Harris, Flickr

Salt Islands

There are several islands within the large salt flat, such as Incahuasi Island, which is known for its giant cacti. This island is a top attraction for most visitors of Salar de Uyuni.

The island is situated in the middle of the salt flat, and was created years ago when the formation of the salt flat had begun.Isla Incahuasi Uyuni - 2018kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Incahuasi Island

The Incahuasi Island is one of the most interesting sites in Uyuni. The terrain is covered in a native species of cactus, and the island is surrounded in the flat sea of hexagonal shapes.

The giant cacti are hundreds of years old and grow at a rate of one centimeter per year. Most of them are more than two meters high with some even reaching a whopping 10 meters.Cactus on Isla Incahuasi - 2009twiga269 FEMEN, Flickr

The Train Graveyard

One of the most popular tourist attractions in this area is the ‘Cementerio de Trenes’ or Great Train Graveyard.

All salt flat tours in the area stop at this train graveyard, where the local tour guide will give a detailed history and description of the site.Train Cemetery, Uyuni, Bolivia - 2019Elias Rovielo, Flickr

The Train Graveyard

The Great Train Graveyard is a result of the collapse of the mining industry back in the 1940s. Prior to that, Uyuni was a major transportation hub for trains in South America.

Many trains were abandoned and instead of decommissioning the trains and selling them, the people of Uyuni left the trains to rot, leaving the mass train cemetery we see today.

Ferroviaria Ave., Uyuni at Bolívia - 2019.Elias Rovielo, Flickr

The Effects of the Salt on the Train Graveyard

What adds to the rotting train spectacle is the fact that the appearance of the ruins has been impacted by the salt winds. The salty climate has corroded all of the metal from the trains, leaving behind an interesting site of rusty scraps.

Visitors are free to climb and explore.Train Cemetery in Uyuni, Bolivia - 2019Elias Rovielo, Flickr

The Mirror Effect Helps with GPS Calibration in Space

Aside from just beauty, the Mirror of the Sky aids in an important job as well: GPS calibration from space. 

Typically, GPS satellites are calibrated by reflecting light off of the ocean. But when the magic mirror of Salar de Uyuni shines during rainy season, scientists are just as excited as tourists.

The reflectiveness of the salt flats is far more effective at satellite calibration than the ocean’s surface.

Woman tourist & beautiful mirror reflection on blue sky and cloud on Bolivia's Salt Flats.Jam Travels, Shutterstock

Final Thoughts

There you have it, several incredible facts about Salar de Uyuni, the Mirror of the Sky, in Bolivia. With its rich history and countless intriguing tourist attractions, this natural wonder is an incredible sight to see.

Professional tours are encouraged if you’re looking to experience all of what Salar de Uyuni has to offer.

Salar de Uyuni is largest salt flat in the World - 2014Vadim Petrakov, Shutterstock


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