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Published: March 12th 2006
We entered Bolivia on the 3rd of March from San Pedro on a 4x4. the road into Bolivia from Chile is a dirt track the road to Argentina however, it tarmac!
We climbed up to an altidude to over 4000m.
I was in a jeep with 3 people from Austria and 2 people from Switzerland, all German speaking.. but they kindly spoke in English so I could understand. (Apart from the driver who was from Bolivia).
The first place we stopped was Laguna Blanco - the white lake, white because of borax, it was stunning.. It was silvery and had loads of flamingos.
The next lake was Laguna Verde, we were here for about 1 hour and in that time the lake
changed from being green and transparent to become green/touquise and opaque. I couldnt believe it - it changed before our very eyes. The lake is green because of the presence of copper and arsenic, there are no flamingos in this lake... because of the arsenic!
We then went to some thermal pools and onto some geysers. The geysers were very active emitting steam and sulphur, so of course it stank! The colours were amazing,
lago verdes (green lake)
The lake before it changes when I look at my pictures I cannot believe how colourful they are. Temp inside the geyser is about 200C, people have died falling in.. luckily no one did on our trip. The bubbling sound was very load.
Just when I though I couldnt possibly ever see anything as spectacular, we went to the Laguna Colorada..... and it was so beautiful. The lake was really red, this lake also changed colour while we were there, to a silvery white colour. There were loads of flamingos on the lake and loads of llamas around the lake. It was truley amazing. I ran about 100 metres to get one last look and nearly died, my heart was racing so fast and I felt I had run a marathon... this is what happens at altudude, everything becomes so difficult.
Later that night I became really dizzy, couldnt think properly and couldnt stop laughing - altitude. Although did start blaming everything on the altidude (Its a good excuse).
That night it was so cold, about minus 5C, although in the winter it gets to about minus 25C. The place we stayed in was very basic and heating was not on its inventory.
lago verdes (green lake)
The lake after it changes So slept in all my clothes and woolly hat, was such a good thing as in the morning, I got up and found I was already dressed!
We left pretty early and headed to the arbol de la piedra (tree of stone) with the mountain of seven colours in our view. Was stunning, also passed a mountain rabbit on the way.
The stone tree was very spectacular, dont quite know how its still standing, but apparently in 4 years time it will topple over. The conditions are salty and windy and its wearing away.
We continued to more high plateau lakes, one with loads of flamingos in, it was possible to get really close. Even so, those binoculars came in very handy.. They are the most beautiful bird. Really pink and fascinating to watch... I could have stayed there days and not been bored.
We went through a little town, where everyone grew the grain, quinoa, a cute little town. The next place we stopped was Uyuni, where there were the final celebrations of carnaval happening. Definatly my first real experience of Bolivian culture and I think Im gonna really like it here.....
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Leah
non-member comment
He's the one called Nev!
Hi Hayely, Finally caught up with your activities. Fab pictures again and you look soooo happy! And skinny!! Must have been all that running around looking for whales! I think your llama is the one on the right but he'll be the one answering to Nev. Take care and keep laughing! Love you, Leah xxx