Atacama Salt Flat

Location

55 km (34 mi) south of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

Size

3,000 km² (1,200 sq mi) which is third largest in the world, after Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia (10,582 km2 (4,086 sq mi)) and Salinas Grandes in Argentina (6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi).

Elevation

2,300 m above sea level.

Features

It has a salt concentration that ranges from 5 to 28% (50 to 280 parts per thousand), producing at the higher end of the range an effect of floating like the Dead Sea.

Enclosed by the Andes to the east and Cordillera de Domeyko to the west.

Some areas of the salt flat form part of Los Flamencos National Reserve.

The Laguna Cejar is a sink hole lake in the Salar de Atacama.

Dominant Volcanoes

The Salar de Atacama fills a tectonic basin between the more than 4000 m high Cordillera Domeyko in the west and the main range of the Andes with its almost 6000 m high stratovolcanoes.

Licancabur, Acamarachi, Aguas Calientes, Láscar

Indigenous Inhabitants

Likan Antay people.

Geological Significance

Part of a larger depression called "La gran fosa"; bounded by north-south structures.

Lithium Production

World’s largest and purest active source of lithium; 27% of the world’s lithium reserve base.

Lithium Concentration in Brine

The Salar is particularly rich in lithium salts. 2,700 parts per million.

Associate Rivers

San Pedro River, Vilama River.

Flora & Fauna Impact

Lithium extraction has led to conflicts over water use and damage to local ecosystems, including Andean flamingos.

Other Minerals

Boron extracted as boric acid.

Threat

It is sinking at a rate of 1 to 2 centimetres per year due to lithium brine extraction.

The brine evaporation method used to produce lithium requires massive quantities of fresh water, which is already scarce, especially in the Atacama Desert.

In the Atacama, it takes 2,000 tons of water to produce one ton of lithium.

Astronomical  observations.

Because of the Atacama plateau’s high altitude, low cloud cover and lack of light pollution, it is one of the best places in the world to conduct astronomical observations.

 PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q. Consider the following countries.

1. Chile
2. Peru
3. Bolivia
4. Argentina

The Atacama Desert spreads over how many of the above countries?

A. Only one

B. Only two

C. Only three

D. All four

Answer D