In the end of our day 2 on the southwest Bolivia we slept in another basic shelter and this time it was very cold. The layers and layers of blankets didn't seem enough. We met some nice people that were in the same kind of excursion as we were and we would meet later again, during our trip.
On day 3 we left the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve and headed north, passing through the Siloli Desert, until the limit of the Salar de Uyuni.
The desert of Siloli is characterized by particular strong winds that shape the surface at its will, including rock formations. That is why we could find there such exotic shapes of rocks, including the biggest attraction, the Arbol de Piedra ("tree of stone"). These shapes also made them super fun to climb them and appreciate the whole surroundings of the desert.
On day 3 we left the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve and headed north, passing through the Siloli Desert, until the limit of the Salar de Uyuni.
The desert of Siloli is characterized by particular strong winds that shape the surface at its will, including rock formations. That is why we could find there such exotic shapes of rocks, including the biggest attraction, the Arbol de Piedra ("tree of stone"). These shapes also made them super fun to climb them and appreciate the whole surroundings of the desert.
We got to see some more lakes, each one with its own properties. Once again some could host life, like flamingos, and some others were toxic and no living being was seen around.
The volcano Ollague (5860m) was also an interesting sight because besides its great grandiosity it also displays volcanic activity. Near the top it keeps expelling gas in a form of a fumarole. It is uncertain when Ollague had its last eruption, but all around it we could find traces of it by observing solidified magma (igneous rock).
Another feature of this part of the world is the presence of a quite weird plant called yareta (Azorella Comptacta). It looks like a moss and covers from small to large portions of the ground. For its green it creates a great contrast on the landscape of this arid area, looking almost like an alien living being. In reality, the yareta is a flowering plant and not a moss, that grows in all parts of the Puna grasslands. It is also on of the protected species of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve.
After some more kilometers and kilometers of bumpy off-road way, we've reached a rather unique archaeological site near the village of San Juan del Rosario, just next to the Salar Chiguano. The site is actually a necropolis known by its Quechua name, Kawsay Wasi, or more commonly known as Museo de Momias. In this site the highborn of the local ancient Quechua community were buried. The tombs are actually petrified coral formations, on which the Quechua opened a hole to introduce the remains of its dead into the coral hollow space, along with their personal objects. They believed that the decease would need this objects and food for their spiritual journey after life. The chambers were then sealed again by closing the hole.
The presence of the corals proves that the area was once below sea level and it was then elevated until such high ground probably at the time when the Andes mountain range.
Some of these tomb chambers were now reopen by archaeologist for investigation and for the public. Inside we can still see the remains and its relics. Some of them have a clear skull deformation. The highborn Quechua applied tourniquets to their children's skull in order to create an oval form. It is not clear why they do this but one of the indirect reasons could be to mark a difference between them and the common people.
In the end of the day we finally reached the limit of the most expected Salar de Uyuni which we would visit the next day. We stayed in a Hotel de Sal, literally an hotel made of salt. Beds, tables benches, walls, all is made of salt! After a tasty bolivian lasagna made by Maura, we had another round of bolivian dice poker (which apparently is very popular) with our new Russian-Canadian and French friends.
The presence of the corals proves that the area was once below sea level and it was then elevated until such high ground probably at the time when the Andes mountain range.
Some of these tomb chambers were now reopen by archaeologist for investigation and for the public. Inside we can still see the remains and its relics. Some of them have a clear skull deformation. The highborn Quechua applied tourniquets to their children's skull in order to create an oval form. It is not clear why they do this but one of the indirect reasons could be to mark a difference between them and the common people.
In the end of the day we finally reached the limit of the most expected Salar de Uyuni which we would visit the next day. We stayed in a Hotel de Sal, literally an hotel made of salt. Beds, tables benches, walls, all is made of salt! After a tasty bolivian lasagna made by Maura, we had another round of bolivian dice poker (which apparently is very popular) with our new Russian-Canadian and French friends.