Salt evaporation pond 1357391 217508084 2008-06-06T10:15:15Z Mac 7858 /* See also */ [[Image:Salt ponds SF Bay (dro!d).jpg|thumb|right|200px|San Francisco Bay salt ponds]] '''Salt evaporation ponds''' are shallow man-made [[pond]]s designed to produce [[salt]] from [[sea water]]. The seawater is fed into large ponds and water is drawn out through natural [[evaporation]] which allows the salt to be subsequently harvested. The ponds also provide a productive resting and feeding ground for more than 70 species of [[waterbird]]s, including several [[endangered]] species. The ponds are commonly separated by [[levee]]s. Due to variable [[algal]] concentrations, vivid colors, from pale green to bright red, are created in the evaporation ponds. The color indicates the salinity of the ponds. [[Micro-organisms]] change their hues as the [[salinity]] of the pond increases. In low to mid-salinity ponds, green algae are predominant. In middle to high salinity ponds, an algae 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 [[tint]]s. These colors are especially interesting to airplane passengers or [[astronauts]] passing above due to their somewhat artistic formations of shape and color. Notable salt ponds include the [[San Francisco Bay]] salt ponds in the [[United States]], and the [[Dead Sea]] salt ponds in [[Israel]] and [[Jordan]] and [[Useless Loop, Western Australia|Useless Loop]], and [[Onslow, Western Australia]]. Abandoned salt pans are a major feature of the southwest coast of [[Taiwan]]. '''Salt pans''' are shallow open pans used to evaporate [[brine]] for the production of [[salt]]. The pans are usually found close to the source of the salt. For example pans used in the solar evaporation of salt from sea water are usually found on the coast, whilst those used to extract salt from solution mined brine will be found near to the brine shaft. In this case extra heat is often provided by lighting fires underneath. <center> {| |- |valign=top|[[Image:MaraisSalant.JPG|thumb|200px|Salt evaporation pond in [[Ile de Ré]], [[France]].]] |valign=top|[[Image:Lanzarote salt pans.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Contemporary solar evaporation salt pans on the island of [[Lanzarote]].]] |valign=top|[[Image:Saline Luisenhall 9.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Open salt pan at Saline Luisenhall, [[Germany]].]] |}</center> ==See also== * [[Concentrating solar energy]] * [[Evaporite]] * [[Playa]] * [[Open pan salt making]] * [[Saltern]] ==External links== {{commons|Salt evaporation pond}} *[http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/earthobservatory/SALT_PONDS,SOUTH_SAN_FRANCISCO_BAY.HTM NASA page on salt ponds] *[http://www.cargillsalt.com/sfbay/index.html Information on the San Francisco Bay salt ponds] *[http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Alviso,+CA&ll=37.483292,-122.019997&spn=0.164057,0.231571&t=k&hl=en Interactive satellite view] [[Category:Edible salt]] [[Category:Economic geology]] [[Category:Primitive technology]] [[Category:Resource extraction]] [[an:Salina]] [[de:Saline]] [[es:Salina]] [[eu:Gatzaga]] [[fr:Marais salants]] [[it:Salina]] [[ja:塩田]] [[pl:Salina (przemysł)]] [[pt:Salina]] [[simple:Salt evaporation pond]] [[sl:Soline]] [[sv:Salin]]