Atacama Desert

Nightfall at Laguna Colorada

Atacama Desert, Bolivia

Laguna Colorada achieves its blood-red coloration from a mixture of red sediments as well as from a variety of algae which thrive in its salt water. Dotted with white islands of massive borax deposits, the nearly 61 square kilometre salt lake is less than a meter deep. The plankton rich lake draws 3 of the world’s 6 flamingo species, including a large number of endangered James flamingos.