Laguna Colorada, Bolivia

Laguna Colorada is located in southwestern Bolivia, specifically in the Sud Lípez province, in the Potosí department. With an area of ​​approximately 6.000 hectares and situated at 4.300 meters above sea level, it is very close to the border with Chile.

It owes its name to the intense reddish color of its waters, caused by mineral sediments and the natural pigments of certain algae that live there. The lagoon is also an important habitat for flamingos, home to three of the six species found in the world. These birds are born with gray and white feathers, but acquire their characteristic pink color thanks to a pigment called canthaxanthin, the same pigment that contributes to the lagoon's hue.

The image was captured by the Sentinel-2 satellite on December 18, 2024, using an optimized natural color composite, which allows the chromatic intensity of the lagoon to be highlighted more effectively.

Image credits: Data Space Copernicus.