This area is made up of two salt flats: Salar de Tara, located 120 kilometres east of San Pedro de Atacama and 440 kilometres northeast of Antofagasta, and Salar de Aguas Calientes, reaching an altitude of up to 4,860 meters above sea level.

In 1996, Salar de Tara was designated a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention.
It features both permanent and seasonal lakes.
The largest of these is Tara Lake, which is fed by the Zapaleri River.
Salar de Tara was formerly filled by an overflowing lake that covered 200 square kilometres (78 sq mi) of area and has left prominent shorelines, 24 of which are recognizable on the eastern side, as well as river deltas.

Flora and fauna
The flora is characterized by the presence of high altitude wetland, as well as yellow straw, broom sedge, tola de agua and tola amaia (two species of parastrephia lepidophylla), and coirón (Festuca gracillima), which can be observed on flat and hilly terrain and on the slopes of volcanoes and hills
Salar de Tara provides a habitat for various rare and endangered species of wildlife.
Some, like the southern viscacha, vicuña and Darwin's rhea, are classified as endangered species.
Others, such as Andean goose, horned coot, Andean gull, puna tinamou and the three flamingo species inhabiting in Chile (Andean flamingo, Chilean flamingo, and James's flamingo) are considered vulnerable.
The conservation status of the tawny tuco-tuco and the Andean fox is unknown.
The latter lives in all the sections of the reserve.

Wind erosion features occur in this area.
This area is made up of two salt flats: Salar de Tara, located 120 kilometres east of San Pedro de Atacama and 440 kilometres northeast of Antofagasta, and Salar de Aguas Calientes, reaching an altitude of up to 4,860 meters above sea level.
In 1996, Salar de Tara was designated a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention. It features both permanent and seasonal lakes. The largest of these is Tara Lake, which is fed by the Zapaleri River. Salar de Tara was formerly filled by an overflowing lake that covered 200 square kilometres (78 sq mi) of area and has left prominent shorelines, 24 of which are recognizable on the eastern side, as well as river deltas.
Flora and fauna
The flora is characterized by the presence of high altitude wetland, as well as yellow straw, broom sedge, tola de agua and tola amaia (two species of parastrephia lepidophylla), and coirón (Festuca gracillima), which can be observed on flat and hilly terrain and on the slopes of volcanoes and hills
Salar de Tara provides a habitat for various rare and endangered species of wildlife. Some, like the southern viscacha, vicuña and Darwin's rhea, are classified as endangered species. Others, such as Andean goose, horned coot, Andean gull, puna tinamou and the three flamingo species inhabiting in Chile (Andean flamingo, Chilean flamingo, and James's flamingo) are considered vulnerable. The conservation status of the tawny tuco-tuco and the Andean fox is unknown. The latter lives in all the sections of the reserve.
Wind erosion features occur in this area.
Los Flamencos National Reserve