On the high plateaus of Bolivia, there are many salt and freshwater lakes, one of which is the shallow lake Laguna Colorada, or, as it is also called, the Red Lagoon. This lake is located in the southwestern part of the Altiplano plateau on the territory of the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve.
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| Laguna Colorada |
The Laguna Colorada reservoir in Bolivia destroys all the usual ideas about the color of water. Contrary to the laws of nature, the waters of the lake are not habitually blue or turquoise, but a reddish-brown hue. This gives the red lagoon a special flavor and mystery. Recently, more and more tourists come here. And they are attracted, first of all, by the fantastic colors and unusually beautiful landscapes.
Natural features of the lake
The Laguna Colorada in Bolivia covers an area of 60 square meters. km, despite the fact that the average depth of the salt lake barely reaches 35 cm. There is a rich deposit of borax - a mineral that is a raw material for boron production. Borax deposits are white in stark contrast to the rest of the landscape. In addition, large deposits of sodium and sulfur were found on the shores of the reservoir.
The Laguna Colorada is picturesquely surrounded on all sides by majestic cliffs and boiling geysers.
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| Laguna Colorada |
Red Laguna Colorada is famous all over the world for its unconventional water color, which depends on the time of day and air temperature. The water surface takes on various shades of rich red, green and brown-violet. Changes in color are due to the presence of some types of algae in the lake, which emit bright pigments, as well as sediment deposits in the area. As you travel through Bolivia, visit Laguna Colorada for exclusive photos of the red lake.
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| Laguna Colorada |
It can be quite cold here at night, and thermometers often drop below zero. But in summer the air warms up very well. Summer months are considered ideal for visiting Laguna Colorada. Due to its natural features, Bolivia's red lagoon in 2007 claimed the title of one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature. Unfortunately, several votes were missing before the final.
Salt Lake Inhabitants
This shallow lake saturated with plankton has become a kind of home for 200 species of migratory birds. Despite the cold weather conditions, about 40 thousand flamingos live here, among which a rare South American species, the pink James Flamingo, is noted. It is believed that there are very few of these birds on the planet, but a huge number of them accumulate on the coast of Laguna Colorada. Chilean and Andean flamingos can also be seen here, but in relatively small numbers.
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| Laguna Colorada |
In addition to rare birds, some species of mammals can be found on the territory of the red lagoon, for example, foxes, vicuñas, llamas, cougars, alpaca llamas and chinchillas. Various reptiles, fish and amphibians are also found here. Tourists often come to Laguna Colorada to see the local fauna, unrealistic concentrations of exotic flamingos and, of course, fantastic changes in the color scheme of the water.
How to get to Laguna Colorada?
You can get to the red Laguna Colorada from a city called Tupica, which is located near the Argentine border. This path is chosen mainly by tourists who come from Argentina, since it is not too difficult to cross the border in this place. The visa is stamped at the border checkpoint for about $ 6. There are several travel agencies in Tupica that organize car tours of the Altiplano plateau. Agencies must include in their program an excursion to the coast of the Laguna Colorada.
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| Laguna Colorada |
However, the majority of travelers choose the route from the city of Uyuni, which is located north of Tupitsa. The tourist business is much better developed here, which means that the choice of travel agencies is wider. The travel program is standard, the same as that of colleagues from Tupitsa. This is a 3 or 4 day off-road vehicle tour of the Altiplano high plateau with a mandatory stop in Laguna Colorada. Renting a jeep with a driver and a cook costs $ 600 for 4 days. It is worth noting that the distance of 300 km to the red lagoon can only be overcome by jeep.