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10 October 2012 IT IS NOT THE SOUND OF SILENCE, which always surrounds one in this corner of the planet, that produces the unending admiration reflected in the faces of those who contemplate with amazement these salt pans for the first time. Situated right in the heart of the Bolivian high plateau, this phantasmagorical place is more than 3,500 metres up in the Andes,and seems more of a dream than the reality around us. What truly leaves one open mouthed on putting a foot down for the first time on the Salar de Uyuni, the biggest salt desert in the World, is of this infinite mirror of silver on which the thin line of the horizon doesn’t separate what is real from the fantasy, what is seen from what is imagined, and turns all that is around one into an illusion. With an area of 12,000 km², the Salar de Uyuni is valued today as being one of the purest and most beautiful spots on the planet. The prestigious British magazine about tourism, Rough Rides, declared the area in 2007 as being one of the 25 natural wonders of the world. Today, the Bolivian salt pan is one of the country’s main destinations, and it is regarded as something of a tourist trend in Latin America. What’s more, UNESCO is evaluating it as a possible addition to its World Heritage List. Sharing experiences with the indigenous people, sleeping in actual hotels made of salt, touring its islands or simply stopping to contemplate one of the marvellous sunrises or sunsets that nature lays on for us in such an area are unforgettable experiences that every day attract more travellers to this desolate landscape. No doubt, whether they want to or not, they will leave behind a tiny piece of their souls. Source: Bolivia Vice-Ministry of Tourism