Freezing in the Bolivian central plateau, Bolivia

*WS 157 –Freezing in the Bolivian central plateau, Bolivia*

The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is a huge reserve in the central Bolivian plateau around 4,200 to 5,400 m level. Within this reserve are several wildlife sanctuaries. We spent 3 days and 2 nights in this region in 2009, with freezing temperature at night, even in summer. 

Shown our convoy of 4 four-wheel-drives, over mostly dusty rocky terrain, a village and the famous “Stone Tree” a ventifact carved by wind-brown sand. Also Rails to No-where, an abandoned line to a mine closed some 60+ years ago, and the famed train graveyard. 

Then the blue Laguna Colorada at 4,278 m, and a hot spring pool. Fauna: flamingos and the llamas. Flora: quinoa the famed high-protein Incan rice and the endemic Peruvian feather-grass, Stipa Ichu.