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Laguna Lejia


Laguna Lejia
Photo Information
Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-01-07
Categories: Desert, Mountain
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds MkII, Canon 24-70 mm f 2,8 L-USM
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): The Wildlife, Plants and Scenery of Chile [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-10-10 8:12
Viewed: 6782
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is the lagoon where I took the shot of the chilean and Andean flamingoes - to the right is a small area of water where the flamingoes are located, As you first see the lagoon it looks completely dead - the flamingoes are not apparent until you drive off the main track and approach (with caution) the lake shore.

The laguna is at 4,325M asl.

Laguna Lejía is a salt lake located in the Altiplano of the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile. The landscape of the area is dominated by the volcanoes Chiliques, Lascar, Aguas Calientes and Acamarachi.

A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water which has a concentration of salts (mostly sodium chloride) and other minerals significantly higher than most lakes (often defined as at least three grams of salt per liter). In some cases, salt lakes have a higher concentration of salt than sea water, but such lakes would also be termed hypersaline lakes.

Salt lakes form when the water flowing into the lake, containing salt or minerals, cannot leave because the lake is endorheic (terminal). The water then evaporates, leaving behind any dissolved salts and thus increasing its salinity, making a salt lake an excellent place for salt production. High salinity will also lead to a unique flora and fauna in the lake in question; sometimes, in fact, the result may be an absence or near absence of life near the salt lake.

If the amount of water flowing into a lake is less than the amount evaporated, the lake will eventually disappear and leave a salt flat or playa (sometimes also referred to as salt pan).

In order, the three largest salt lakes in the world are the Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, and Lake Balkhash. The largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, the Great Salt Lake, is the fourth largest salt lake in the world.

The salt lake with the highest elevation is Namtso, and the one with the lowest elevation is the Dead Sea, which is also the lowest exposed point on the Earth's surface.

Some salt lakes are strictly seasonal and become arid lakebeds in the dry season. An example of this type of salt lake is the Makgadikgadi Pans of Botswana.

Since the 8th century, the salt of Lake Baskunchak in Russia was mined and distributed via the Silk Road. Nowadays the lake's salt of distinct purity (99.8 % NaCl) covers 80 % of the country's salt production. Depending on need, about 1.5 million to 5 million tons of salt are mined per year.
nglen, vanderschelden, xTauruSx, Mikolaj, zulfu, maurydv, boreocypriensis, nasokoun, anel, CeltickRanger, goldyrs, horia, PaulH has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jazdzurka: TemperatureJamesp 1 10-10 14:40
To vanderschelden: EtoshaJamesp 2 10-10 10:23
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2009-10-10 8:48]

Hi James , For someone who has stayed in England most of his life your pictures shows me parts of the would i should never see and often never heard of. I see a few dry looking grasses but not much plant life. You have taken a good compostion. From your POV we can see the mountains in the BG . The deep blue of the sky giving the colour. Well taken TFS.
Nick..

Hi James,
How are you!
You have this lagoon hung up and salted. Nicely photographed as well.
Question: I know you've been there; the Etosha pan in Namibia. Is this the same process as described in your note? 'Cause it's not a lake and its altitude can't be compared with this lagoon's altitude?
Well done and greetings,
Annick

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-10-10 10:45]

Hello James,
Wonderful landscape in a fantastic composition. The colours in the salt lake, mountains and sky are very beautiful. Great clarity. Beautiful DOF and different patterns in the photo.
Regards,
Peter

Hello James, wonderful scen shot with nice composition.
Regards,
Deniz

Hello James! Excellent landscape. Good POV and capture. Very good colours and saturation. Wonderful shot. Good luck!

HI James
Very interesting presentation and beautiful picture. The place really look quite dead.
By the way I'm wondering what temperature was when you were takin the picture?
Good composition and exposition, nice colours too.

I just have one comment to your note. I always knew Caspian Sea as a true sea (in the past it was part of the World Ocean and than it was separated so I'm not sure if it is good to call it "lake").
Thanks for sharing
Ania

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 685 W: 0 N: 2] (43)
  • [2009-10-10 15:03]

Hello James, great landscape shot with excellent composition, details and colours.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

Hello James,
a wonderful landscape, superb sharpness and fantastic lighting, splendi bright colours, excellent DOF and composition
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hi and good morning bro James,

Finely composed scene shot of a salt lake from an effective POV with neat details, colours and fine composition.
TFS and have a nice Sunday MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

hello James
impressive forms in this very beautiful landscape, the output is marvellous,it reveals this place,very good notes!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-10-11 5:25]

Hello James,
Most beautiful view on this Chilian lagoon..I like the different color-layers which give to the picture a very artistical touch. Amazing nature with almost no vegetation and there is still life. Très beau!
Thanks also for your note.
Kind regards
Anne

hello James

a very beautiful landscape photo, with fine POV and DOF,
lovely soft colour tones of the image of both the earth's
warm and the sky's cold colour tones, TFS

Asbed

Stunning shot, one of the best landscape shots I've ever seen, James!
All elements of nature, Air, water, light and land are in perfect proportion!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi James,
A landscape that not yet I have podsido to see, Rep that with your photos certainly a day I will go.
TFS & Best regards.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2009-10-12 0:22]

Hi James

Another very beautiful and interesting post from you!
Having visited an ex-salt lake a couple of months ago myself, it was very interesting to see and read about yours here.
Indeed the place here looks completely different and gave you a whole new set of elements to work with.
I really love the curve of the lake here and how you've incorporated that in the composition. Also, the vegetation in the FG creates this terrific pattern and adds a touch of color that looks wonderful while boosting the perspective of the entire place, too.
On top of everything the mountain peaks in the BG act like guardians of this place and complete this gorgeous setting!
Truly nice work, my friend!

Bravo and TSF
Horia

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2009-10-12 11:35]

An awesome Landscape James, very raw and primitive feeling. The swoop of the shore line and the tufts of vegetation in the FG give this great depth - well done.
Paul

Hi James,
This really looks like a place no animal wants to live. But I am sure that next to the flamingos many more animals can be spotted. It is not often you see landscape photo were no human hand has made changes to. Your view of this desolate landscape is breathtaking. I love the different colors in the lake and the subtle differences in the sand and rocks.
TFS,
Niek

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