5. Extreme Weather and Unique Climate
With some of the most severe and dramatic weather patterns on Earth, the Salar de Uyuni produces a continually shifting terrain that tests local residents as well as guests. Rising 11,995 feet (3,656 meters) above sea level, the salt flat sees daily temperature swings ranging from 70°F (21°C) during the day to much below freezing at night. This severe temperature fluctuation produces special meteorological events including fast evaporation rates that help to produce salt polygons all around the surface. One of the best places in the world for astronomy viewing, the area gets an average of 200 days of clear sky yearly. The strong sunshine bouncing off the white salt during the dry season causes a blinding effect requiring particular eye protection. High altitude, low humidity, and little light pollution have drawn international astronomical research initiatives. Local weather patterns also produce amazing optical illusions such superb mirages in which objects seem to float above the horizon. The particular temperature of the salt flat has resulted in the evolution of specialised microbes able to survive in these hostile conditions, which makes it an important site for researchers of life in challenging surroundings. From mineral crystallisation to wildlife movement patterns, the fragile equilibrium of the salt flat’s ecosystem is preserved in great part by the rhythms of the weather.
6. The Mysterious Salt Hotels
Even to residents, Salar de Uyuni’s most amazing feature is the presence of hotels constructed totally from salt blocks. These architectural wonders seem to challenge accepted building wisdom by using salt from the flat itself for walls, floor, ceilings and even furniture. The fact that these hotels preserve structural integrity in face of seasonal flooding and high temperature fluctuations makes this even more amazing. The method of construction is cutting blocks of salt from the flat and glueing them together using a salt-water combination that hardens into a very robust building material. Using age-old techniques refined over decades, these hotels are kept constantly and partially rebuilt each following the rainy season. These salt hotels have an amazing degree of natural climate control shown by their remarkably constant interior temperature all year long. Modern conveniences have been deftly incorporated into these buildings without sacrificing their special quality or environmental viability. The hotels have evolved into living labs for designers researching sustainable building techniques in challenging surroundings. Now under study by worldwide construction professionals, local builders have created specialised procedures for strengthening salt constructions. Though none have attained the same degree of sophistication and endurance, the success of these salt hotels has motivated similar efforts in other parts of the world.