9 Amazing Facts About Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni That Will Blow Your Mind (And #6 Even Surprises Locals!)

5. Extreme Weather and Unique Climate

With some of the most severe and dramatic weather patterns on Earth, the Salar de Uyuni produces a continually shifting terrain that tests local residents as well as guests. Rising 11,995 feet (3,656 meters) above sea level, the salt flat sees daily temperature swings ranging from 70°F (21°C) during the day to much below freezing at night. This severe temperature fluctuation produces special meteorological events including fast evaporation rates that help to produce salt polygons all around the surface. One of the best places in the world for astronomy viewing, the area gets an average of 200 days of clear sky yearly. The strong sunshine bouncing off the white salt during the dry season causes a blinding effect requiring particular eye protection.

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High altitude, low humidity, and little light pollution have drawn international astronomical research initiatives. Local weather patterns also produce amazing optical illusions such superb mirages in which objects seem to float above the horizon. The particular temperature of the salt flat has resulted in the evolution of specialised microbes able to survive in these hostile conditions, which makes it an important site for researchers of life in challenging surroundings. From mineral crystallisation to wildlife movement patterns, the fragile equilibrium of the salt flat's ecosystem is preserved in great part by the rhythms of the weather.