Bolivia Uyuni | A Pink Date with Flamingos
| A Pink Date with Flamingos
Bolivia Uyuni | A Pink Date with Flamingos
Hey guys, I must share my amazing three-day trip to Uyuni, Bolivia, especially the dreamlike flamingo habitat at Laguna Colorada!
During this trip, I was eager to see flamingos. There are many lakes in Bolivia where you can see flamingos, but Laguna Colorada is definitely the most popular one! It is located in southwestern Bolivia, close to the Chilean border, and is part of the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. When I arrived, I found that it is about 4,278 meters above sea level, a typical plateau salt lake. Standing by the lake, the thin air carries a unique plateau scent.
Laguna Colorada is called the Red Lake because the color of the lake is so stunning! Its red color comes from the rich minerals in the lake and the tiny red algae. These algae reflect a charming red color under the sunlight. Amazingly, the color of the lake changes from light red to dark red with the light and weather, and every moment is like a new painting.
This place is simply a paradise for flamingos! Especially the rare Andean flamingos (Flamingo Andino), which flock to the lake to rest and forage. In addition to flamingos, the large salt flats and boron deposits in the lake add to the charm of the lake area, and the unique landscape makes people stop and admire it.
I also learned that the pink or red feathers of flamingos hide an interesting "diet secret." There are a lot of tiny red algae and plankton in the Red Lake, which are rich in carotenoids. Flamingos eat them as their main food, and after ingestion, the carotenoids are broken down in the body, metabolized, and stored in the feathers, beaks, and skin, giving flamingos their iconic bright colors. Moreover, the more carotenoids they ingest, the brighter their feathers become; if there is not enough food, their feathers will become pale.
The red water and mineral-rich saline environment of the Red Lake are simply a "happy home" for red algae and plankton, and the abundance of food allows flamingos to keep their beautiful feathers. In the world of flamingos, these bright colors are not just for show. During courtship, the brighter the flamingo, the more attractive it is to a mate; in the group, it is also a symbol of health and status!
On this trip to Uyuni, the moment I saw the flamingos at the Red Lake, I felt it was all worth it! If you want to experience this dreamlike scene, be sure to put the Red Lake on your travel list!