Salar de Uyuni in south-west Bolivia was once part of a massive prehistoric lake but today is the world’s largest salt flat. When dry it’s a barren landscape, so featureless that it’s great for perspective tricks – but during the wet season it becomes a spectacular giant mirror.

Salar de Uyuni is estimated to contain as much as 10 billion tonnes of salt, and about 25,000 tonnes is collected here each year, using the traditional method of sweeping the salt up into neat piles to dry before being carted away.

However, salt is not Salar de Uyuni’s only valuable mineral: it also contains an estimated 5.4 million tonnes of Lithium, which is estimated to be between 50% and 70% of the world’s entire lithium supply! As a vital part of many electric batteries demand for lithium is on the increase, but Bolivia has been reluctant to let foreign mining companies onto the flat, instead opting to build their own modest plant which should be operational by 2012.

In the meantime, Salar de Uyuni still helps the economy through tourism. Hotel de Sal Playa Bianca, or “The White Beach Hotel” was built right in the middle of the salt flat and constructed from the very same salt. Unfortunately, due to the difficulties in sanitation, it was closed down in 2002.

Thankfully tourists can still experience living in a house of salt at either Hotel Luna Salada or the newer Palacio del Sal, both of which are built just on the edge of the salt flat. In an effort to protect their building from degradation, the Palacio del Sal enforces a strict “no licking the walls” policy.

Tourists to the area may also take a visit to Incahuasi island, also known as Island of the Fish. Located within the salt flat it is technically not an island, and is home to no fish. If that doesn’t tempt you, you could always visit the nearby town of Uyuni, which has a massive train boneyard.

Yungus Road, or “Death Road” as it is known to the locals, has often been described as the most dangerous road in the world.

Running from Bolivia’s capital La Paz into a rainforest region known as the Yungas, the road has no barrier to the edge, and the two-way traffic shares a space just 12ft wide.

From the aerial shots, the road looks relatively safe as it casually winds through the trees. But load up the terrain layer in Google Earth, and you’ll see scary hairpin bends leading around the edge of a cliff face.

In fact, it seems “Death Road” is a very suitable nickname, as it’s estimated between 200 and 300 people die in this area each year!

Notoriety hasn’t helped the death toll here, as thrill-seeking tourists now visit the area just to drive on the road and it’s even popular with mountain biking lunatics.

More information and pictures on BBC, Wikipedia and Bolivian Geographic

Thanks: nova72