Our second trip from San Pedro was the day we were due to leave for our journey north out of Chile and onto Colombia, via Lima.We went up to over 4,000m. The aim was to see high fresh water lagoons, mountains, birds and two different kinds of salt lake. It was an early start, the scenery became pretty dramatic almost as soon as we set out. It had rained a little in the night and the high Andes has a scattering of snow on them.
The San Pedro salt lake glimmered white in the distance.
After an hour in a mountain village for breakfast.
The air was cold and thin and clear.
The village church nestling in a hollow.
A farmers house was nearby.
With an irrigation chammel running beside it.
The dog came out to see if he could beg some breakfast.
We had a few minutes to look around the village.
The houses were very simple.
But they had managed to plant a garden, and the flowers were blooming.
Trees struggled though.
We were amazed to see these garbage bins!
We felt the cans should be recycled!
The altitude was about 3.500m and still the hollyhocks bloomed.
The roofs were thatched with the spiney grass that grows at this alititude.
This is the grass in the gound!
The church was made of adobe with a very impressive bell tower.
and new brass bell.
On the top of the tower was a bunch of flowers.
Just by was a shrine to someone who had died nearby.
The villagers were busy in the fields.
solar electricity and a satellite were installed!
Once fed and watered we set off again climbing rapidly.
We caught sight of a fox, who sat down and watched us as watched him!
The clumps of grasses created a yellow colour effect over the altiplana.
The first lagoon we came too was stunningly beautiful.
We actually caught sight of a guanacho in the distance.
algeas and grasses grew together.
The scond lagoon was still,
With a few birds by the lakeside / a long way away!
It always amazes me that anything grows at this altitude.
But there is always the odd stunted shrub with flowers on it.
Off were were again, climbing up and up to the remarkable Green Salt Lake.
There is a feeling of detachment from reality up here.
The scenery weird.
The liquid salt beside the lake is like mud.
When all the water evaporates the salt becomes similar to small stones.
It is brittle and crunches when walked on.
I couldn't beieve my eyes - Grass.
Living off the salt mud!
A delicious lunch was prepared for us.
I found some more flowers.
Our guide told us that it was going to rain - the first time in 10 years!
He was right - the rain we had to shelter from.
The rain came from Argentina!
You pay a fortune for these grasses in Europe.
After lunch we were off down the mountain side.
To the San Pedro Salt lake.
This lake is not smooth like other salt lakes because the water comes from underneath the salt and evaporates through the damp salt causing it to look like a ploughed field.
It smells too. But underneath the salt is brine, which they are extracting to take out the minerals and Lithium. The lake has the world's largest source of Lithium.
So Chile is very busy extracting it!
We wondered what will happen to the lake and its very pretty flamingoes.
Other birds like the brine too.
We were dodging the rain.
But finally it came down in sheets.
Another village exists in the desert, which relies on its irrigation system put in by the Spaniards hundreds of years ago.
The water used to come up to the top of this ravine!
But there is still enough water to grow fruit and vegetables.
An ancient bell tower stands in the village square.
With a door made from cactus wood.
Just look at that hinge!
The church is new.
The stairs made from cactus wood.
But the stautes were very old.
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