Laguna Colorada

Laguna Colorada is a shallow salt water lagoon which is present in Bolivia. This is considered to be the largest in Bolivia and one of the largest salt water ecosystems that are present. This is located 151 km to the south of San Juan and covers an area of 60 sq. km. the name of this lake literally means the red lagoon. It is situated at a high elevation of 4278m. The colour of water in this lake appears to be red. This is due to the abundant presence of algae and plankton which have a red colouration whilst chemical deposits frame the lake with a white fringe to create a visual spectacular. There are islands of borax present in the lagoon. Also, many minerals line the shore like white sodium deposits, magnesium, borax, gypsum etc. The best feature of this lake however are the flocks of pink flamingos that have three ieties breeding there. These are the Chilean flamingo Phoenicopterus Chilensis, James flamingo Phoenicopterus James, and the Andean flamingo Phoenicopterus Andinus. The James Flamingos are however present in the most numbers. Laguna Colorada is one of the Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention signed in 1971.