According to Kesler et al (2012), Salar de Uyuni is associated with a sequential transformation between several vast lakes. About 30,000 to 42,000 years ago, the area was part of an enormous prehistoric water body, Lake Minchin. Its age was estimated from radiocarbon dating of shells from outcropping sediments and carbonate reefs and varies between reported studies. Lake Minchin later transformed into Paleo Lake Tauca which had a maximal depth of 140 meters and an estimated age of 13,000 to 26,100 years. The youngest prehistoric lake was Coipasa, which was radiocarbon dated to 11,500 to 13,400 years ago. When it dried, it left behind two modern lakes, Poopó and Uru Uru, and two major salt deserts, Salar de Coipasa and the larger Salar de Uyuni.
