Friday, 2/23. Uyuni Salt Flats, largest in the world. The hotel is literally built with salt. They cut salt bricks out of the Flats, representing several years of salt accumulation.

The town of Uyuni is now nothing much. It once was a mining hub. (It may be again. A significant share of the world’s lithium reserves hide under the salt, waiting for value or technology to make it profitable.) Outside town is a “Train Cemetery”, slowing disappearing as the metal is scavenged. Downtown had several very nice sculptures representing their past. The train station is part hotel. Rent a rail car.

The Salt Flats defeat adequate description. There is a 2 or more inch layer of brine for most of it. Some spots are door panel deep. We rent rubber boots to walk around (barefoot is safe, but it requires tough skin). We stopped at a remote spot and the drivers set up a lunch. Weird feeling. Very much like an ice covered lake where water has leaked above the ice. Except it’s salt! No risk of breaking through.

We are ants above the surface. Just incredible. The highlight of the trip to Bolivia.