Smelly Lakes And Windswept Rocks

Trip Start Jan 08, 2007
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Trip End Oct 01, 2007


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Flag of Bolivia  ,
Monday, June 11, 2007

Day two's sunrise start saw us on a long days drive away from the Salar and into high altitude through barren and desolate landscapes towards Volcan Ollaque(an active volcano) and the Chilean border before arriving at the sulphur stench of Laguna Hedionda. This vile lake at times is home to many different species of Flamingo and I was lucky enough to see both white and pink flamingos sifting mud close to the shore.
The afternoon drive took us into the Siloli Desert, a flat expanse located at over 4600meters from sea level. Here the strong winds work to carve the rocks into crazy forms such as the Arbol de Piedra or rock tree. The two jeeps then raced each other across the desert toward the national Park and Laguna Colorada a red lake close by to our evening camp. Huddled together inside the cold hut we drank neat rum before bundling outside to gaze at the stars. Being this close to the heavens gives a mesmerising view into space. It is possible to pick out the cloudy blur of the milky way, the condor, the Southern cross and many of you will not believe the hundreds of millions of stars visible... They reach all the way down to the horizon creating a complete twinkling blanket over the night sky filled with shooting stars and bright distant planets including Mars and Venus.
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