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Bolivian City Made of Salt Delights Tourists Next to the Salar de Uyuni, the Largest Salt Desert in the World, with Hotels and Structures Built Entirely with the Mineral
In the world, most houses are made of wood, stone, or bricks. But in Colchani, in Bolivia, salt is the main raw material for construction. This small ‘salt city’ is located next to the Salar de Uyuni, the largest desert of this mineral on the planet.
Residents take advantage of this abundant resource to build houses, furniture, and even entire hotels from blocks of salt.
The Largest Salt Desert in the World
The Salar de Uyuni covers more than 10,000 km² and forms a white landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see. The region was once a gigantic prehistoric lake, dried over the centuries, leaving behind a thick layer of salt.
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Local inhabitants have learned to extract and shape this material, making it an essential part of daily life.
Houses and Furniture Made of Salt
In Colchani, it’s not just the houses that use salt as a base. Tables, chairs, and even beds are made from compacted material. One of the most well-known examples of this tradition is the Hotel de Sal Palacio de Sal, one of the first hotels in the world built almost entirely with salt blocks.
These constructions require constant maintenance, as moisture and wind wear down the blocks over time. Still, since salt is a virtually limitless resource in the region, residents replace the affected parts without difficulties.
Life in a Salt City
The extraction and trade of salt are the main economic activities in Colchani. Workers use artisanal techniques to cut blocks directly from the salt flat and transform them into products that will be sold both inside and outside Bolivia.
Tourism has also grown in recent years. Visitors from around the world come to see the curious salt constructions and explore the desert. The city has become one of the main starting points for tours of the Salar de Uyuni.
An Important Resource for Cooking
In addition to being a building material, the salt extracted from Uyuni is of great importance in cooking. It is considered high quality and widely used in Bolivia and other countries.
Tourists visiting the region can try typical dishes prepared with local ingredients. Grilled llama meat with quinoa is one of the most popular specialties in the city’s restaurants.
The Natural Spectacle of the Salar de Uyuni
Colchani is the gateway to one of the most impressive landscapes on the planet. During the rainy season, a thin layer of water covers the salt flat and creates a mirror effect, perfectly reflecting the sky. This event attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Visitors can also see artisanal salt processing factories, explore hotels made from this material, and take home souvenirs made of crystallized salt.
Colchani is an example of how humans can adapt to their environment and creatively utilize natural resources. What could have been merely an inhospitable desert has become one of the most fascinating and original places on the planet.
With information from Correio Braziliense.
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