Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Southern Bolivian wilderness

From our base at Uyuni we embarked on a memorable 3 day, 4WD safari of the Southern Bolivian Saltlakes and Volcanic uplands.
We passed some amazing landscapes on our 650km tour. By the time we arrived back to Uyuni, we had had enough of the dust and dry desert air.


First morning of the tour, back at the train grave yard. You´d like it here Dad!


Massive dust devil hitting Uyuni....we saw many of these but this was the most impressive. You´d like it here Terry!


Isla del Pescado, Saltlakes - a strange island in the salt, covered in cactus forest.


Interesting coral landscape on the island once below sea level, now at 3600+ m.


Some of the many cactus on the island.


We went everywhere with our bottle of water - soooo dry here.


From the island summit - Volcan Tunupa at 5431 m.a.s.l in the far distance.


The salt flats made for some intersting photo opportunities.


Suvi appearing in the heat haze.


Having fun!


Some strange creatures here in the salt lake.


Suvi braving the smell of my shoe :-)

Defying gravity!


Up close!


Our accomadation for the first night at dawn - Hotel made from salt - not as glam as it sounds.


You often see these stuffed armadillos on the shelves in shops - they bring good luck & prosperity to the shop owner.


They also make good eating, here stored in an oil drum....tough life for an armadillo!

Some weird stuff to see - ancient Inca people or tourist hoax?


Active Volcan Ollague at 5868 m.a.s.l. on the Bolivian / Chillian border.


Flamingo filled Laguna Colorada at a remote 4270m. A safe place for flamingos to live.


Close up!


Here reflecting a nearby volcano.


Poser!


Another Flamingo lake!! There were plenty of them up here.


Typical view from the jeep....our support vehicle disapearing in a dust cloud at 4700m....air pretty thin up here.!


Some great rock formations here....the effects of sand errosion over thousands of years.


Amazing to find mammals up here. This little fellow was living happily above 4000m.


Evening hike to another flamingo lake on day 2.


What an amazing view!

Woah!


Day 3, Dawn! Not something I ever expected to be able to do.....geyser jumping! No safety rules here.


6am, Geysers Sol de Manana.


Coloured lakebeds and my geyser in the background...probably not safe to wonder onto here but were still alive!


Our fellow travellers in the morning steam.


We love this image...no one heeds the warning signs :-)

The sights kept coming...this, a welcome bath in the freezing morning air. The Aguas Thermals at 4300 m.a.s.l at 36 degs warming our freezing muscles.


Popular place....a great spot for breakfast. Also to wash off the dust!


Laguna Verde at 4400m. Volcan Licancabur on the Chillian border towering in the background at 5960m. Us with our group.


Couldn´t resist a quick visit to Chile.....no passport required at this remote fronteer.


This scene apparently inspired Salvador Dali.


Space!


Salt lakes and more flamingos later on day 3.


Last one, promise. Crashed military plane and passing dust devil....brilliant!

1 comment:

JukkaK said...

Tosi erilaisen näköistä, hienoa mutta varmaan vaativaa seutua.