Patagonia 2016

Frozen Salt

Small and shallow Laguna Amarga is located just outside of the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park. The laguna is shut off from outside water sources by ridges and glacial moraines and is supersaturated with gypsum. Laguna Amarga derives its name from the bitter taste of its water, which has a high salt content concentrated by evaporation. Much of the salt is washed to the banks of the laguna, leaving a white soft layer which in the winter months, freezes into a slush and sometimes into solid forms.