The Uyuni Salt Flat Offers One Of Bolivia's Dreamiest Landscapes

If you could envision a place on earth that appears as though you're walking into the great abyss as the sun beats down upon you, or you've miraculously obtained the ability to walk on water across a massive mirror after a heavy downpour, would you go? Perhaps you envisage what it might be like to walk on another planet within our solar system, yet remain here on this earthly plane or feel as though you're walking through a dream. Well, there are places just like this around the globe, and their landscape is so unworldly, the experience of being upon their terrain leaves visitors with a sense of awe and wonder that is unexplainable.

We're talking about salt flats (or salt pans as some refer to them). Naturally formed by the evaporation of water, these incredibly wondrous specimens of natural salt upon the earth are typically found in desert landscapes around the globe. And, one particular salt flat in Bolivia happens to be the biggest salt flat in the entire world, as confirmed by BBC Earth: The Uyuni Salt Flat (Salar de Uyuni).

A dreamscape on earth

Imagine a gigantic lake in prehistoric times. Vast, tranquil, beautiful. Fast forward to the last Ice Age, and drastic changes in temperature caused this once serene lake to dry up, thus creating the fascinating landscape of the Uyuni Salt Flat. This is no ordinary salt flat by any means. Firstly, it sits at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, and its terrain is over 6,500 square miles in length and width. Officially this planet's largest salt pan, the billions of tons of salt it produces is used to create lithium reserves for powering electronic devices and vehicles for a good portion of the planet.

Able to be seen from outer space, as reported by Space.com, Salar de Uyuni provides visitors one of the dreamiest landscapes on the planet. Diverse in its scenery, this giant salt flat under clear sky and sunshine, appears visually as a massive, white-powdery, hexagonal beehive under your feet. Add some rainwater to its magical terrain, and the salt alchemically transforms into the world's largest mirror, according to National Geographic, reflecting heaven upon earth.

From stars in the sky to a star is born in Bolivia

If you think the Uyuni Salt Flat is entrancing during the daytime, you're in for a mystical treat while visiting at night. Head on over to the salty terrain just before the sun sets and watch a magical show of colors reflecting off the landscape. Stay longer, and this giant surface of white is a reflective blanket under the night sky and stars, mirroring the celestial bodies above you. You'll feel as though you're walking in space, or through the ethers for the more metaphysical visitors.

While Salar de Uyuni's terrain is dreamlike, it also looks as though it's not of this planet. If you've never been to this region of Bolivia to partake in this natural wonder upon earth, you may recognize the Uyuni Salt Flat through its many appearances in numerous films, according to Bolivia Fixers. None are more popular than its use as the pivotal filming location for the planet Crait in "Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi," as reported by Forbes. For the adventurous, the inspired, the dreamers, the curious, the stargazers, and the "Star Wars" fans: Make your way to the country of Bolivia in South America, and visit the Uyuni Salt Flat for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that doesn't disappoint.