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Where Is the Salar de Atacama?

GeographyNatural Resources

Quick Answer

The Salar de Atacama is in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, at an elevation of about 2,300 metres in the Andes — it is the largest salt flat in Chile and the third largest in the world.

The Full Story

The Salar de Atacama covers approximately 3,000 square kilometres in one of the driest places on Earth. It formed over millions of years as mineral-laden water from the Andes flowed into a closed basin with no outlet, evaporating and leaving thick salt deposits. The salt flat is not perfectly flat like Bolivia Uyuni — its surface is a rough, jagged crust of halite (rock salt) and other minerals. The Salar de Atacama holds about 27% of the world known lithium reserves, making it a critical resource for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. Lithium is extracted by pumping brine into evaporation ponds. The salt flat edges host several shallow lagoons that attract large flocks of Andean, Chilean, and James flamingos. The area also boasts some of the world best conditions for astronomical observation — the ALMA observatory sits at 5,000 metres nearby.

Key Facts

1.The Salar de Atacama contains approximately 27% of the world known lithium reserves — Chile is the world second-largest lithium producer after Australia.
2.Three species of flamingo inhabit the Salar de Atacama lagoons: the Andean, Chilean, and James flamingo — one of the few places where all three coexist.
3.The ALMA radio telescope array, situated at 5,000 metres altitude near the Salar, is the most expensive ground-based astronomical facility ever built, at a cost of about $1.4 billion.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Salar de Atacama — Chile Salt Flat Hiding the World Lithium"