Flamingos in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia

© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimon

Strolling across the Red Lagoon

Today we’re ready to enjoy a summer’s day at the Laguna Colorada in the southwestern corner of Bolivia. Also called the Red Lagoon, this 59-square-kilometre shallow salt lake sits at about 4,200 metres above sea level within the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in the Andes. At various times of the year, it can turn the shade of tomato soup due to microscopic red algae and sediments. During the rainy season from December to April, scores of flamingos flock to the area to dip their comb-like bills into the water to filter out delicious plankton and algae. You can find three of the six types of flamingos here - the Chilean, Andean, and the world's largest population of the endangered James flamingo, once thought to be extinct.