The other day we showed you some of the most amazingly unusual colored lakes that can be found on the planet and today we want to focus on one of them. We are referring to the Laguna Colorada, a spectacular body of water found in Bolivia. As its name indicates, what makes this lake special is the red color of its waters, although there are many more than things to keep in mind about this wonderful Bolivian corner.
Fancy discovering more details about the Laguna Colorada? Well you know what you have to do! Do not miss anything we tell you below!
A wonder of nature
The Laguna Colorada is considered one of the most important natural corners of the world, something that is not surprising if we consider that it is a salty lake that, depending on different factors, acquires tremendously beautiful reddish tones. This wonder of nature is found in the southwest of the Bolivian altiplano. To be more exact, it is located in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, in the department of Potosí.
The color of the water
Located more than 4,000 meters above sea level, the Laguna Colorada is shallow (35 centimeters), although it covers almost 60 square kilometers. As we have already mentioned, its main attraction is the color of its waters, which, depending on the time of day and the intensity of the light, takes on different shades; coppery, vermilion, crimson ... Those responsible for this phenomenon are halophilic microalgae called dunaliella salina that bloom during the day, giving the lake some magical hues. Of course, as we have said before, there are other things that draw the attention of this corner of Bolivia.
Other characteristics of the lake
Another surprising feature of the lagoon is that borax mounds, an important compound of boron, can be found in it. As you can see for yourself in the images that we show you in the gallery, the white saline crystals contrast in a wonderful way with the waters. And that's not all! It is also important to note that during the summer months the lake fills up with flamingos. It is estimated that more than 20,000 flamingos arrive each year, although during the winter only a few hundred remain. The number of flamingos varies depending on different factors, such as the intensity of cold weather or the reduction of food during winters. On the other hand, it should be noted that of the six species of flamingos that exist on the planet, three arrive each year at this lake. This is Chilean, Andean and James flamenco.
Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
Before leaving you with our gallery, we want to tell you a little more about the place where the lagoon is located. We are referring to the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, which is the most visited Protected Area in Bolivia. Located in the heights of the Cordillera de los Andes, in the southwestern part of the country, it has the highest mountains on the Bolivian border with Chile and Argentina, and stands out for being an area dotted with erupting volcanoes, geysers, springs hot springs and fumaroles. It is undoubtedly a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime. Then we leave you with our Gallery, where you will find more images of the Laguna Colorada. Do not miss it!
Breathtaking Flamingo Red Lake in Bolivia (April 2024)
- lakes, national parks
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