Tall cacti on Isla de Pescados
An island in the middle of the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. During the rainy season it is surrounded by shallow water - during the dry season it is ringed by a salt pan. How does anything grow in such a saline environment?
Inkahuasi or Inkawasi (Quechua, meaning "Inca house"), also Isla del Pescado or Isla de los Pescadores, is an island in the middle of Salar de Uyuni, in the Daniel Campos Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia.
The total area is 24.62 ha. Geographically, the terrain is harsh; it is a rocky, hilly island.
The Salar is virtually devoid of any wild life and vegetation. The latter is dominated by giant cacti such as Echinopsis (Trichocereus) atacamensis pasacana and Echinopsis (Trichocereus) tarijensis. They grow at a rate of about 1 centimeter (0.39 in) per year to a length of about 12 meters (39 ft). Other shrubs include Pilaya, which is used by locals to cure catarrh, and Thola (Baccharis dracunculifolia), which is burned as a fuel. Also present are quinoa plants and quenua bushes.
The local guides claim that the island took its name Isla de Pescados ("Island of the Fish") because when viewed from distance it looks like a fish.
Tall cacti on Isla de Pescados
An island in the middle of the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. During the rainy season it is surrounded by shallow water - during the dry season it is ringed by a salt pan. How does anything grow in such a saline environment?
Inkahuasi or Inkawasi (Quechua, meaning "Inca house"), also Isla del Pescado or Isla de los Pescadores, is an island in the middle of Salar de Uyuni, in the Daniel Campos Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia.
The total area is 24.62 ha. Geographically, the terrain is harsh; it is a rocky, hilly island.
The Salar is virtually devoid of any wild life and vegetation. The latter is dominated by giant cacti such as Echinopsis (Trichocereus) atacamensis pasacana and Echinopsis (Trichocereus) tarijensis. They grow at a rate of about 1 centimeter (0.39 in) per year to a length of about 12 meters (39 ft). Other shrubs include Pilaya, which is used by locals to cure catarrh, and Thola (Baccharis dracunculifolia), which is burned as a fuel. Also present are quinoa plants and quenua bushes.
The local guides claim that the island took its name Isla de Pescados ("Island of the Fish") because when viewed from distance it looks like a fish.