Salinas Grandes, the white salt plain of Jujuy
Published on 09/19/2026 at 16:46 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
High on the Andean plateau of northwest Argentina, Salinas Grandes in Jujuy appears as a wide white salt plain shared with neighbouring Salta, lying at an average altitude of about 3,450 m (11,320 ft) above sea level. The salt crust extends over more than 200 km², forming part of a basin that has filled with minerals over long geological periods and hardened into a bright, almost level surface between low hills and distant ranges.
A high-Andean salt basin shaped by time
Salinas Grandes lies between the provinces of Jujuy and Salta on the high Puna plateau, a dry, high-altitude region east of the main Andean chain where closed basins collect water and dissolved minerals that later crystallise into salt. The salt plain itself covers around 212 km² as a broad expanse that has become known for its almost continuous white surface stretching towards the horizon.covers around 212 km² In satellite and aerial images, the basin appears as a sharply defined light patch against darker rock and sparse vegetation, marking the place where water once gathered and then evaporated.
The salt crust is formed from layers of evaporite deposits, where water carrying sodium, potassium and other minerals left behind solid material as it disappeared in the dry climate. Over geological timescales, this process built up a surface of salt that is thick enough in places for tracks, shallow cuts and small extraction pits, with the underlying brine holding industrial interest for elements such as lithium.industrial interest for elements such as lithium The surrounding plateau sits at similar elevation, so the transition from scrubland to salt crust feels more like a change in surface than a sharp drop.
Landscape of white crust, pools and distant ranges
Viewed from ground level, Salinas Grandes presents a landscape dominated by the pale salt surface, broken only by small pools, shallow cuts and low rims where workers have opened sections of the crust. The plain is nearly level, which gives long sightlines towards the edges of the basin and the low ridges beyond. In clear weather, the contrast between the white salt and darker hills makes the structural lines of the plateau easy to read, with roads and tracks appearing as narrow bands across the surface.nearly level salt crust The terrain around the salar includes rocky slopes and sparse high-altitude vegetation typical of the Puna, with distant mountain chains framing the basin.
The salt plain sits within a wider cultural landscape that includes communities linked to the plateau and nearby lagoons, where Kolla and Atacama people live in scattered settlements and work in small-scale agriculture and livestock breeding.Kolla and Atacama communities Around the salar, simple structures mark areas of activity, from basic shelters to small working zones for salt extraction. In some sections of the plain, shallow rectangular cuts in the crust reveal underlying brine and form geometric patterns that contrast with the otherwise uninterrupted white field.
Salinas Grandes, altitude and the road across the salt
Geographically, Salinas Grandes lies in northwest Argentina, in the highlands north-west of San Salvador de Jujuy, with the border between Jujuy and Salta running across the basin.border between Jujuy and Salta The average elevation of around 3,450 m (11,320 ft) makes it one of the higher large salt flats in Argentina, and gives the surrounding mountains and plateau slopes clear definition against the plain. The high altitude and dry climate combine to produce strong light across the salt crust, accentuating its brightness and making the change from rock to salt visually sharp.
National Route 52 (Ruta Nacional 52) crosses Salinas Grandes itself, forming a paved line across the basin that continues west towards the Paso de Jama, a high border pass leading to Chile.Ruta Nacional 52 towards Paso de Jama Travellers commonly approach the salt plain from Purmamarca, a town on Route 9, by following RN 52 up through the Cuesta de Lipán mountain pass and then descending again to the plateau and the salar.approach from Purmamarca on RN 52 The road across the salt flat allows vehicles to pass directly alongside the white surface, with simple roadside stopping areas where journeys pause at the edge of the crust.
Visiting Salinas Grandes: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Salinas Grandes lies in northwest Argentina on the high Puna plateau, between the provinces of Jujuy and Salta, and is reached on National Route 52 from towns such as Purmamarca.
- The salt plain sits at an altitude of about 3,450 m (11,320 ft), so any walk across the crust or up nearby slopes takes place in thin air on exposed high-altitude terrain.
- The surface of the salar is largely level and firm where the crust is intact, but around pools and extraction cuts the ground changes to softer or uneven salt, requiring careful footing.
- In some periods the salt flat can hold shallow water, creating reflective sections above the crust, while surrounding slopes remain dry and rocky.
- The official language is Spanish and the currency is the Argentine peso.
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Where is Salinas Grandes located?
Salinas Grandes is a high-altitude salt plain in northwest Argentina, shared between the provinces of Jujuy and Salta on the Puna plateau.
What should travellers expect on a visit?
A visit centres on the wide white salt crust at around 3,450 m (11,320 ft), with long views across the plain, exposed high-altitude conditions and nearby rocky slopes.
What makes Salinas Grandes distinctive among Andean landscapes?
Its combination of a nearly level white salt basin of about 212 km² and the paved RN 52 road crossing the crust gives Salinas Grandes a clear, recognisable character within the Andean plateau.
