There was a travel show this week featuring Donal MacIntyre travelling to the Altiplano region of Bolivia. It was a fascinating insight into the hard life the Quechuan Indians live, indigenous people who pre-date the Incas, at over 3500 metres above sea level. A large part of the Bolivian Altiplano is covered in salt flats, it was part of a prehistoric salt lake which covered most of southwestern Bolivia, when it dried up it left the salt pans of Salar de Uyani and Salar de Coipasa.
I was interested to see the traditional way of life that people still live by today, spirits and gods are believed to be responsible for such things as good harvests, safe journeys and matchmaking, so many offerings and sacrifices to Pachamama, or Mother Earth, take place. Bolivia is the most indigenous country in South America, with more than 50% of the population claiming pure Amerindian blood.
An intriguing country to visit, both in culture and geography.