Nature Video
22 September 2025

Is this really the world's largest mirror? Researchers put it to the test

Measurements show how flat this reflective lake in Bolivia really is, despite the wind blowing across it.

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Satellite radar altimetry reveals spatial and temporal changes in water surface smoothness in the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The smooth surface of the shallow water covering this huge salt flat in Bolivia acts like a giant mirror. Tourists travel to the Salar de Uyuni to see the effect and walk out into the lake. Now scientists have used satellite data and on-the-ground measurements to determine exactly how flat the surface of the water is – but how it stays so smooth is still a mystery.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03088-3

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