The Red lagoon (Laguna Colorada) is a shallow lake within the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and close to the border with Chile. The lake is famous for its strong red colour caused by algae that provide food for large flocks of pink flamingos.
The Red Lagoon is located at 4,278 meters above the sea level and has a total surface of 60 km2. It is a lagoon of several colors, which has a predominant array of red shades. This is caused by animal plankton, phytoplankton and other additional elements. The beauty of the landscape that surrounds the area contrasts with the reddish hue of the lagoon and the pink flamencos.
This place is also known as the "Nest of the Andes" as it shelters more than 30.000 flamencos of three different species. It is also home to the "Parihuana Chica" (a species of flamingo), the largest of its kind in South America.
The view becomes even more spectacular with the presence of a generally large collection of flamencos that reside all over the red waters of the lake. There are three major species of birds: "parina chica" or "Chururu", the "Totoko" or "parina grande". All of these species of birds make a stop here before continuing their journey towards the North.
On the road to the Red Lagoon stands the active Ollague volcano . There is also a chain of several small lagoons inhabited mostly by flamingos and the thermal waters of Chalviri most of which contain salty water (30 C of temperature).
