Salar de Piedra Parada, Salt flat in Atacama Region, Chile.

Salar de Piedra Parada is a salt flat located in the Atacama Region at an elevation above 4,000 meters in northern Chile. The white salt deposits stretch across the terrain alongside small salt lakes and distinctive gypsum formations that create varied textures across the ground.

Salar de Piedra Parada was documented in Luis Risopatrón's geographical dictionary of Chile in 1924, bringing scientific recognition to this location. This geographical documentation helped establish the salt deposit as a known natural feature in geographical records.

Luis Risopatrón's 1924 Diccionario Jeográfico de Chile records the flat under the name Piedra Parada, placing it between the Lagunas Bravas and the Sierra de Aliste. The same entry notes small salt-water pools, gypsum incrustations and clusters of selenite crystals, the features travellers still look for on the ground.

The high-altitude location requires physical preparation and proper equipment for a visit. Bringing plenty of water and using a reliable vehicle are essential to navigate the remote and arid environment safely.

Luis Risopatrón's 1924 dictionary gives the flat 421 hectares, while later measurements put the basin at 388 km² and the salt flat itself at 28 km². He also noted small salt-water pools between the Lagunas Bravas and the Sierra de Aliste, near the international border.