Salinas Grandes

Salt Flats in Northern Argentina

 

November 2022

 

by Ravi Chandra Gundakaram

Salinas Grandes are the salt flats in northern Argentina, stretching across the provinces of Jujuy and Salta. The mean altitude is 3450 m, and the area is over 200 sq. km. Although not as vast as the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Salinas Grandes have their own draw!

The surreal landscape of salt!

The Visitors’ Centre, so to say. The llama to the left of the flag , as well as the huge dish to the right of the centre of the photograph, are made of salt.

Apacheta, an offering to Pachamama, in Salinas Grandes. More about this on the post on Purmamarca.

To make salt for human consumption, and also for industrial purposes, the top layer is cut by several tens of centimetre. The water below the surface comes up, as seen in our photograph here, and evaporates over a few months, leaving pure salt for collection. Quite a slow process, you’d say. Quite.

One of the many troughs of salt water, getting evaporated. A few others can be seen to the top right of the photograph.

Making salt for you!

There was a huge signboard that said, ‘Salinas Grandes, one of the seven wonders in the world.’ What is at the bottom is kind of strong: ‘No to lithium, yes to water and to life!’ These flats are home to large reserves of the element lithium, which is an essential ingredient in batteries for cell phones and what not. Several companies are invested in the mining, but it is a sensitive issue locally. The natives believe extraction of lithium depletes their drinking water reserves and so are not in favour.

The signboard referred to above.

This sign says, “No to mega mining. Let us take care of our natural resources.” Emotions run high, as can be expected!

A vendor selling items made out of salt. As you can see, she is all covered up to protect herself from the salt and the wind.

Let's move on to Purmamarca, folks! Catch you there in the next blog!!