What is a salt evaporation pond?
Q: What is a salt evaporation pond?
A: A salt evaporation pond is a man-made shallow pond that is usually located near the sea. The ponds are filled with salt water and then left to evaporate, leaving behind the harvested salt.
Q: What kind of animals inhabit these ponds?
A: Most of the animals inhabiting these ponds are birds.
Q: How does the color of the water indicate how much salt there is in it?
A: Green colors come from special algae in low to mid salinity ponds (ponds with little salt in the water). In middle to high salinity ponds, an alga called Dunaliella salina shifts the color to red. Millions of tiny brine shrimp create an orange cast in mid-salinity ponds. Other bacteria such as Stichococcus also contribute tints.
Q: Where can we find examples of these kinds of ponds?
A: Examples of these kinds of ponds can be found on Ile de Ré in France, San Francisco Bay area, Aigues-Mortes in France, Batz-sur-Mer in France and Salineras de Maras, Maras, Peru.
Q: What happens after the salt has been collected from the pond?
A: After it has been collected, it can be used for various purposes such as seasoning food or other industrial uses.
Q: How do people harvest this type of salt?
A: People typically harvest this type of salt by manually scooping it out from the pond once it has been collected after evaporation.
