Yellow-billed Teal (Anas flavirostris)
A common duck, but this was my first close encounter, as most of the previous ones were in lagoons sometimes 100 metres away or more. Altitude: 4228 metres. It sounds like this:
Tag Archives: Altiplano
Condoriri
My time here started with low clouds, sleet and no sight of the beautiful peaks of Condoriri. I was grateful that the clouds lifted enough to see the peaks before I went back to La Paz and my next journey to Madidi and the Amazonas. I will gladly come back to see more of the […]
Viola pygmaea
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4503 metres.
Azorella biloba
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4509 metres.
Azorella biloba
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4509 metres.
Altiplano plant 37
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4553 metres.
Altiplano plant 37
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4553 metres.
Calandrinia acaulis
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4553 metres.
Geranium sp
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4595 metres.
Geranium sp
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4595 metres.
Oritrophium sp
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4608 metres.
Gentiana sedifolia
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4608 metres.
Gentiana sedifolia
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. This species is very variable, so pattern varies. Altitude: 4608 metres.
Altiplano plant 31
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Some plants, including this one was so close to being in bloom – I wish I had some more time […]
Caltha sagittata
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4605 metres.
Paja brava (Festuca orthophylla)
This is perhaps the most abundant and eye-catching grass on the Altiplano. Even outside the flowering season they are incredibly decorative, and in particular those growing in solitude are really amazing. Even though the grass is incredibly tough, pointy and to me very dry, it’s food for many of the grass-eaters including the llamas. Here […]
Castilleja nubigena
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. This is a semi parasitic plant. Altitude: 4623 metres.
Altiplano plant 30
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4611 metres.
Castilleja nubigena
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4623 metres.
Saxifraga boussingaultii
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4638 metres.
Calandrinia acaulis
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4632 metres.
Calandrinia acaulis
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4632 metres.
Condoriri glacier
I had many hours in La Paz before my plain to Rurrenabaque, and chose to get out of the city to see Condoriri. I only had a few hours, and it takes about 2 hours by car each way, so I had very little time on my hand and had to make the most of […]
Altiplano plant 26
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Altitude: 4558 metres.
Erigeron rosulatus
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4558 metres.
Lysipomia pumila
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. The two strangely doubled, greyish leaves on the left side are from Lachemilla diplophylla (Rosaceae). Altitude: 4550 metres.
Caltha sagittata
The Condoriri park was a treasure trove of plant species, and I wish I had several days here, as my few hours was far from enough to explore all the incredible miniature plants growing here. Altitude: 4553 metres.
Altiplano plant 22
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Altitude: 3669 metres.
Lycium humile
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Altitude: 3669 metres.
Lycium humile
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Altitude: 3669 metres.
Altiplano butterfly 02
This was the second species of butterfly I saw during my few dayes here. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Altitude: 3669 metres.
Altiplano stream
The much lusher and higher vegetation reveals a constant source of fresh water from one of the many springs. Even though it flows most of the year it’s not flowing over the banks, so the salts are washed away only a very short distance from the stream. I met one of the local farmers by […]
Arenaria rivularis
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Altitude: 3669 metres. Thanks to Christian Bravard for identification.
Baccharis acaulis
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Here it’s popping out of a cushion of Sarcocornia pulvinata. Altitude: 3669 metres.
Baccharis acaulis
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Here it’s grouwing out of a cushion of Sarcocornia pulvinata. Altitude: 3669 metres.
Altiplano plant 18
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Altitude: 3669 metres.
Altiplano plant 18
Grows on the salty portions of the rim of the Salar de Uyuni that receives fresh water sporadically. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Altitude: 3669 metres.
Fabiana imbricata
Grows on the slopes of the Cerro Tunupa. Altitude: 3989 metres.
Fabiana imbricata
Grows on the slopes of the Cerro Tunupa. Altitude: 3989 metres.
Adesmia sp
Grows on the slopes of the Cerro Tunupa. Full of sticky resin. Altitude: 3989 metres.
Adesmia sp
Grows on the slopes of the Cerro Tunupa. Altitude: 3989 metres.
Adesmia sp
Grows on the slopes of the Cerro Tunupa. Please help with a positive ID – leave a comment 🙂 Altitude: 3989 metres.
Liolaemus ornatus
One of many species of lizard found at the very high altitudes of the Bolivian Altiplano. Altitude: 3989 metres.
Baccharis tola
A few weeks earlier and I would have seen all this as flowers – a beautiful sight I imagine. This species seems abundant here, and is undoubtedly able to spread far and wide with the wind. The amount of seeds per plant is staggering, and sometimes so many are released that it looks like smoke […]
Cerro Tunupa
One of countless volcanic peaks on the Altiplano. If you’re up to it you can easily trek to the top, as there are no sheer cliffs to climb. I didn’t have the desire to go any higher than 4000 metres that day (just a few hundred metres up the slopes), but if I had more […]
Southern Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna vicugna)
My first sight of this group was a couple lying in the dirt road! Completely chilled and did not bother to get up before the car was quite close. Even then they just leisurely moved on into the vast landscape. A hunted herd would be extremely stressed and run far away! The northern and southern […]
Parastrephia lucida
Grows between the shores of the lagoon and the desert. Here they are about 2 metres tall. Altitude: 4135 metres. Thanks to Christian Bravard for identification.
Parastrephia lucida
A bush that grows between the shores of the lagoon and the desert. Here they are about 2 metres tall. Altitude: 4135 metres. Thanks to Christian Bravard for identification.
Xenophyllum incisum (Asteraceae)
The flowers were less torn here at this small lagoon compared to Laguna Colorada. Altitude: 4139 metres.
Siloli desert lagoon (unknown name)
There are countless lagoons in this desert, and each of them unique in shape and color! No matter how close or wide your view is, this desert provides immense beauty as far as colors are concerned. When you take the altitude into account, it’s quite astonishing that many of the lagoons are brimming with life […]
Puna Tinamou (Tinamotis pentlandii)
My time here coincided with chick-time for the Puna Tinamous, and I was lucky enough to encounter this litter. Without chicks the adult would fly off long before I could come this close, but even earth-bound it was incredibly cunning and fast and very hard to track in the landscape dotted with vegetation. The chicks […]
Xenophyllum incisum (Asteraceae)
This salt and mineral tolerant plant thrives here and has generated large mats close to the water. Further down there is only naked shores which every odd years will be flooded. The last time was a couple of years ago when the desert got about 2 metres of snow in a couple of days. Altitude: […]
Xenophyllum incisum (Asteraceae)
This hardy plant grows where the high watermark is, and is thus very salt and mineral tolerant. You can see the salt and mineral deposits to the bottom right. Altitude: 4300 metres.
Laguna Capina
This lagoon seemed without any flamingos, and it’s probably due to the extensive extraction of the white mineral borax (Sodium tetraborate decahydrate) seen here. Altitude: 4561 metres.
Cactus (Cumulopuntia boliviana)
When the flower is gone, the remaining part is well protected from being reached, so what species is the fruit aimed at? Only insects and small rodents will reach the fruit unharmed, so perhaps that’s it? Altitude: 4004 metres.
Cactus (Cumulopuntia boliviana)
This is the yellowish variant of this species found here on the Bolivian Altiplano. It appears it does not grow to the huge size of the orange variant (Cumulopuntia boliviana ssp. ignescens)), and also the orange variant seems to bloom a bit earlier than the yellowish species. Altitude: 4004 metres.
Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi)
My first and only sighting the this species, and I was in luck as this species is hunted to such an extent that it’s now red listed as vulnerable by IUCN. How much so became clear as my driver ran up to the animal and looked at it more as a food item than an […]
Dust Devil
This dust devil came so close to the car that the driver simply stopped and seemed a bit scared of what was going to happen. I on the other hand was very excited and hoped it was getting even closer, as I knew the worst that would happen would be a huge amount of volcanic […]
Dust Devil
At midday the heat of the sun has created a turbulent atmosphere, and here resulted in a beautiful dust devil. One of many during my few days here, but in fact only 3 grew to such well defined tornado-like “suckers” like this one. This is beautiful to watch but is really just an indication of […]
Yareta (Azorella compacta)
This enormous and partially dying specimen is growing by one of many incredibly beautiful rock outcrops here called Valle de las Rocas, or Rock Valley. Even in this photo an artistic face with a huge eye appears. The living Yareta only adds to the wonder as its shape and age seems to blend in with […]
Rock Valley (Valle de las Rocas) & Southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia)
In a garden of rock formations resembling many different animals I was baffled to suddenly stand in front of this Viscacha monitoring my movements. It’s like I met the only living guardian of that day, and it was checking me out. Apparently I was an acceptable visitor that had recognized what is here, as it […]
Rock Valley (Valle de las Rocas)
One of the many “sculptures” in this amazing place, that seemed without any kind of face or specific form. Still I think there is a wolf-like head on the top looking to the right. You can sit here for hours and see new appearances in the rock formations around you, and all are changing throughout […]
Rock Valley (Valle de las Rocas)
Yet another animal, and to me perhaps a dolphin’s face. Later in the day or even under the starry sky it might look like another creature. A different angle and it is simply a rock. Hundreds of years on it will be gone forever. This garden of sculptures is like nothing I’ve ever seen, and […]
Rock Valley (Valle de las Rocas)
Most are unable to see nature’s never ending miracles – from the smallest of scales to the large. They stand amidst it all but are filled with thoughts of the future or the past and simply do not see. Some places are just powerful to the senses of the human body, but also way beyond […]
Rock Valley (Valle de las Rocas)
Many kilometres before I got to here, I noticed a very unusual rock formation in the landscape. Like a fissure from which Earth has had time to have fun and be creative. True it was once a fissure and volcanic, but at some point it cooled and the erosion set in. Ever since this place […]
Andean Goose (Chloephaga melanoptera)
This large duck is unmistakable and very conspicuous, and I saw several of them here at River Alota. A haven in the middle of the dusty desert! Altitude: 3836 metres. It sounds like this:
Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus)
The huge, dry Altiplano is not without water. Several springs feed lagoons and rivers – even in the deepest of the dry season. This is River Alota, shallow and crystal clear, and surprisingly has a large amount of fish! Not a place I would expect to find flamingos, but this location has sufficient life for […]
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli)
This shallow river is teaming with life and fish – in the middle of the desert. I wonder how the fish could end up here – are they remnants of the time when the Altiplano was part of the Pacific? In any case they make up a good portion of the Heron’s diet, and they […]
Altiplano butterfly 01
One of very few butterflies I saw on the Altiplano. In the Amazon there’s a lack of salt and they sometimes swarm aound sweat or urine stains in the landscape. Here it’s plenty of salt, but perhaps not so much pollen. Please help my identify it – leave a comment. Altitude: 3838 metres.
Darwin’s Rhea (Rhea pennata garleppi)
This South American version of the African Ostrich seems out of place here almost 4000 metres high on the Altiplano, but this is it’s environment! Even in this park it’s wary of humans, so it seems it’s still hunted, or at least this generation has been hunted (they live to around 11 years). Also called […]