Salar de Surire Natural Monument, Salt flat and natural monument in Parinacota Province, Chile.
Salar de Surire is a salt flat located in the Andes at 4,250 meters elevation, covering roughly 11,300 hectares. The landscape consists of white salt deposits, shallow lagoons, and surrounding mountains characteristic of this high-altitude terrain.
The Chilean government designated this site as a protected natural monument in 1983 to safeguard its high-altitude ecosystems. This designation was part of broader conservation efforts across northern Chile.
The salt flat holds meaning for local communities interested in high-altitude conservation and Andean ecosystems. Visitors come to observe how nature thrives in extreme environments and to see the rare bird populations.
The site is accessible only by four-wheel-drive vehicles via unpaved roads, as public transportation does not reach this location. Visitors should prepare for extreme high-altitude conditions and bring adequate water and supplies.
The site contains multiple shallow lagoons that serve as critical habitats for three flamingo species and numerous Andean water birds. These lagoons are essential breeding and feeding grounds for birds adapted to extreme high-altitude conditions.
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