At an altitude of more that 4.200m above sea level, this salt lake hides in the middle of the driest desert in the world and fascinates visitors with its intensely white color and bright blue lagoons.
The wetlands around the lake, which was declared Natural Monument, offer a habitat for three different types of flamingos: The Chilean Flamingo, the Flamingo Parina and James’s Flamingo. Also, you can easily spot other wild animals like the Andean ostrich, vicuñas and lamas.
The extreme altitude of the salt lake creates a unique landscape and ecosystem. On 11.298 hectares, the salt lake creates an environment that protects the existence of numerous species like ñandus, caitis, alpacas, vicuñas, ducks, flamingos and many more. The temperature at the salt lake varies between -15°C during the night and 5°C during daytime. While the plain is almost entirely covered by the salt lake, in the center of the lake you can spot the mountain Oquealla with a height of 4.322m. The name “Surire” comes from the word “suri” or also called “ñandu”, which is a chilean ostrich species that inhabits the highlands and can frequently be observed around the salt lake.
This precious place, the Natural Monument Salt Lake of Surire, is a wild yet protected area within Chile. It was given the title of Natural Monument in 1983 and is located in the community of Putre, region of Arica and Parinacota, just south of the National Reserve Las Vicuñas.