The salt
A white plain.
Bachelot Pierre J-P — CC BY-SA 3.0 · M M — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Chris malebran — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Laucho 10 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rodrigo.ordenescl — CC BY-SA 4.0
Salar de Surire is a natural monument in the Andes of the Arica y Parinacota region in Chile's far north. It is mainly a salt flat with small salt lakes, home to many Andean animals and plants, with the Arintica volcano towering over it. In 1981 UNESCO declared it, with Lauca National Park and Las Vicuñas National Reserve, a World Biosphere Reserve called Lauca. It is also a Ramsar wetland of international importance. It has natural hot springs, and visitors come to see three kinds of flamingo. You see a wide white plain of salt broken by shallow blue pools reflecting the sky and mountains, ringed by brown and pink volcanic peaks. Herds of wild vicuña walk near the water, flocks of pink flamingos fly over the pools, and steam rises from the hot springs on cold mornings. It is about 88 km from the town of Putre in a straight line, and the dirt road needs a four-wheel drive. It lies above 4,200 metres, so do not go before acclimatising.
A white plain.
Wild herds.
Morning steam.
The Andes, far north of Chile
It is dirt and needs a 4WD.
Flamingos, vicuñas and hot springs.