Salar Aguas Calientes I, Salt pan in Antofagasta Region, Chile.
Salar Aguas Calientes I is a salt pan located in the Andean highlands of the Antofagasta Region at an elevation of about 4,200 meters. The basin covers several square kilometers and is fed by mineral-rich springs that keep the water warm throughout the year.
The Chilean government designated this salt pan as a Ramsar Wetland in 2009. This official protection recognized the ecological value of the mineral springs and the ecosystem they support in the high Andes.
Three flamingo species gather here to feed in the mineral-rich waters, making the salt pan an important gathering place for these birds. You can observe them moving across the shallow wetland throughout the year.
The location sits at high altitude with thin air, so allow time to adjust before exertion. Bring plenty of water and warm clothing since temperatures drop sharply at night, and plan your visit during the drier months for easier access.
The water never freezes despite subzero winter nights because hot springs continuously feed the basin with warm water from below the surface. This geothermal activity creates a rare refuge for wildlife in an otherwise frozen highland environment.
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