Beautiful Flamingos of the Salar de Atacama (Salt Flats)
When visiting San Pedro de Atacama, Chile be sure to include Los Flamencos National Reserve to your list of must see destinations. In particular, go see the salt flats or Salar de Atacama. Located only 55 km south of San Pedro de Atacama, Salar de Atacama is the largest salt flat in all of Chile and consists of two salt flats: Tara and Aguas Calientes. Salar de Tara is the habitat for many rare or endangered species, including a number of Chilean and Andean flamingos.
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Back in 1996 the Salar de Tara portion of Los Flamencos National Reserve was designated as a “Wetland of International Importance” to help conserve and preserve the area. And while there are a wide variety of wildlife that can be found there, some of the most common and beautiful are the flamingos.
One kind of flamingo found there is the Andean Flamingo. The Andean Flamingo is native to the high Andes and can be found in the northern part of Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. The Andean Flamingo looks like many other species of flamingos except that most of its plumage is a pinkish-white color. It has a black bill and deep black coloring on its hind quarters. It is also the only flamingo species that has yellow legs and feet.
Another flamingo found at Salar de Tara is the Chilean Flamingo. It is a larger species of flamingo and is more closely related to the Greater Flamingo. These flamingos can be found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and have even been transplanted to the Netherlands and parts of Germany. Their plumage is pink with darker pink at the back end. They have gray legs with pink “knees” and a black bill. Like the Greater Flamingo, they have black under-feathers which can only be seen when their wings are outspread.
But, regardless of whether you are going to see the flamingos or the salt flats themselves, Salar de Atacama in Los Flamingos National Reserve is one destination that is worth the trip every time. Don’t miss out on these other incredible destinations when in and around San Pedro de Atacama: Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geyser Field and more.
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