The three largest salt lakes in the world are the Caspian Sea, Aral Sea & Lake Balkhash. Eventually, a salt lake will turn into salt flat if the water in the lake has evaporated & dry out. This post covers most of the Salt Lakes found on earth.Obviously, these places are not popular for travel & not many have visited these places. However, it is worthwhile to take a closer look at these unusual destinations. 1. Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan)  Caspian Sea shore, Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan. [ Photo by Doron / CC BY-SA 3.0 ] The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of 371,000 km2 (143,200 sq mi) (Not including Garabogazköl Aylagy) and a volume of 78,200 km3 (18,800 cu mi). It is in an endorheic basin (it has no outflows) and is bounded by northern Iran, southern Russia, western Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and eastern Azerbaijan. The ancient inhabitants of its littoral perceived the Caspian Sea as an ocean, probably because of its saltiness and seeming boundlessness. It has a salinity of approximately 1.2%, about a third the salinity of most seawater. The Caspian Sea has been called Gilan (جیلان or بحر جیلان) on ancient maps. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)2. Aral Sea (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan)  Orphaned ship in former Aral Sea, near Aral, Kazakhstan. [ Photo by Staecker / public domain ]The Aral Sea is a saline endorheic basin in Central Asia; it lies between Kazakhstan (Aktobe and Kyzylorda provinces) in the north and Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, in the south. The name roughly translates as "Sea of Islands", referring to more than 1,500 islands that once dotted its waters. In the deepest parts of the sea, the bottom waters were saltier than the top, and not mixing. Thus, only the top of the sea was heated in the summer, and it evaporated faster than would otherwise be expected. In 2003, the South Aral further divided into eastern and western basins. There is now an ongoing effort in Kazakhstan to save and replenish the North Aral Sea. As part of this effort, a dam project was completed in 2005; in 2008, the water level in this lake had risen by 24 m (79 ft) from its lowest level in 2007. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)3. Lake Balkhash (Kazakhstan, China)  Lake Balkhash near Priozersk city, May 2007 [ Photo by Nikolay Yushnikov / public domain ]Lake Balkhash is one of the largest lakes in Asia and 12th largest continental lake in the world. It is located in southeastern Kazakhstan, in Central Asia, and belongs to an endorheic (closed) basin shared by Kazakhstan and China, with an insignificant part in Kyrgyzstan. The basin drains into the lake via seven rivers. The major one is the Ili River, which brings the majority of the riparian inflow; others, such as the Karatal, provide both surface and subsurface flow. The Ili is fed from precipitation (largely vernal snowmelt) from the mountains of China's Xinjiang region. Western part, which comprises 58% of the total lake area and 46% of its volume, is relatively shallow, quiet and is filled with freshwater, whereas the eastern part is much deeper and saltier. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)4. Bonneville Salt Flats (USA)  Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah, United States. [ Photo by Apollomelos / public domain ]The Bonneville Salt Flats is a densely-packed salt pan in northwestern Utah that is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville. It is the largest of many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake, is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and is known for land speed records at the "Bonneville Speedway". In 1907 Bill Rishel and two local businessmen tested the suitability of the salt for driving on by taking a Pierce Arrow onto the surface of the flats. A railway line across the Bonneville Salt Flats was completed in 1910, marking the first permanent crossing. The first land speed record was in 1914 by Teddy Tetzlaff. Movies filmed at the salt flats include portions of Warlock, Independence Day, SLC Punk, Cremaster 2 from Cremaster Cycle, The Brown Bunny, The World's Fastest Indian, Gerry, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)5. Great Salt Lake (USA) Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world, and the 37th-largest lake on Earth. In an average year the lake covers an area of around 1,700 square miles (4,400 km2), but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its shallowness. For instance, in 1963 it reached its lowest recorded level at 950 square miles (2,460 km²), but in 1987 the surface area was at the historic high of 3,300 square miles (8,500 km2). The Great Salt Lake is endorheic (has no outlet besides evaporation) and has very high salinity, far saltier than sea water. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)6. Mono Lake (USA)  Tufa towers at the alkaline and hypersaline Mono Lake in California U.S.A [ Photo by Octagon / CC BY 3.0 ]Mono Lakeis an alkaline and hypersaline lake in Mono County, California. It has an unusually productive ecosystem, and is a critical nesting habitat for several bird species. From 4.5 to 2.6 million years ago, large volumes of basalt were erupted around what is now Cowtrack Mountain (east and south of Mono Basin); eventually covering 300 square miles (780 km2) and reaching a maximum thickness of 600 feet (180 m). Later volcanism in the area occurred 3.8 million to 250,000 years ago. This activity was northwest of Mono Basin and included the formation of Aurora Crater, Beauty Peak, Cedar Hill (later an island in the highest stands of Mono Lake), and Mount Hicks. Mono Lake is believed to have formed at least 760,000 years ago, dating back to the Long Valley eruption. (based on a wikipediaarticle / cc by-sa)7. Walker Lake, Nevada (USA)  Walker Lake (Nevada), a natural lake located in Mineral County, Nevada. [ Photo by FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Walker Lake is a natural lake, 50.3 mi² (130 km²) in area, in the Great Basin in western Nevada in the United States. It is 18 mi (29 km) long and 7 mi (11 km) wide, located in northwestern Mineral County along the eastern side of the Wassuk Range, approximately 75 mi (120 km) southeast of Reno. The lake is fed from the north by the Walker River and has no natural outlet except absorption and evaporation. As of 2004[update] the salt concentration is above the lethal limit for most of the native fish species throughout much of the lake, and the survival of the Lahontan cutthroat trout in the lake will be threatened if inflow is not drastically increased. Also affected are the lake's Tui chub. (based on awikipedia article / cc by-sa)8. Lake Colac (Australia)  Lake Colac at Colac, Victoria [ Photo by Mattinbgn / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Lake Colac is situated to the north of the Colac town centre in Victoria, Australia. The lake provides a home for the Yacht Club, Rowing Club and water skiers during the summer months and has many birds. The foreshore has a playground, boat ramp and the Colac Botanical Gardens. Midway through January 2009, the lake dried up after years of drought, and the first time in 173 years. For over 25yrs worth of images of Lake Colac visit Peter Edwards Photography has hundreds of images link: http://www.peteredwardsphotography.com.au/photocart/ (based on awikipedia article / cc by-sa)9. Lake Eyre (Australia) Lake Eyreis the lowest point in Australia, at approximately 15 m (49 ft) (AHD) below sea level, and, on the rare occasions that it fills, it is the largest lake in Australia. It is the focal point of the vast Lake Eyre Basin and is found some 700 km (435 mi) north of Adelaide. The Eyre Basin is a large endorheic system surrounding the lakebed, the lowest part of which is filled with the characteristic salt pan caused by the seasonal expansion and subsequent evaporation of the trapped waters. Even in the dry season there is usually some water remaining in Lake Eyre, normally collecting in a number of smaller sub-lakes on the playa. During the rainy season the rivers from the northeast (in outback Queensland) flow towards the lake through the Channel Country. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)10. Lake Gairdner (Australia)  Lake Gairdner, South Australia. [ Photo by Itsonlyme / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The lake is over 160 km (100 miles) long and 48 km (30 miles) across with salt over 1.2 metres (4 ft) thick in some places. It is located west of Lake Torrens, 150 km northwest of Port Augusta and 440 km northwest of Adelaide. It is located in the Gawler Ranges. Lake Gairdner was named by the Governor of South Australia, Richard MacDonnell in October 1857 after Gordon Gairdner, a Chief Clerk of the Australian Department in the Colonial Office. (based on awikipedia article / cc by-sa)11. Laguna Verde (Bolivia)  Laguna Verde and Licancabur, Bolivia. [ Photo by Carlos Adampol / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) is a salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, in the Potosí Department, Sur Lípez Province, on the Chilean border at the foot of the volcano Licancabur. You may find some flamingoes dancing in the salt. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)12. Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia)  Salt mounds in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. [ Photo by Luca Galuzzi - http://www.galuzzi.it / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Salar de Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi). It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, and is elevated 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above the mean sea level. The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average altitude variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium. It contains 50 to 70% of the world's lithium reserves, which has yet to be extracted. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)13. Lake Makgadikgadi (Botswana)  The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana are one of the most important breeding sites in Southern Africa for lesser and greater flamingos. Much of flamingo migration behaviour is unknown. [ Photo by ed glickman / CC BY 2.0 ]Lake Makgadikgadi is an ancient lake that existed in what is now the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. It may have once covered as much as 80,000 km² and was 30 m deep. The Okavango, Zambezi, and Cuando rivers once all emptied into the lake. Approximately 3 million years ago, strong easterly winds brought about the formation of elongated dunes which ran from east to west across the middle of the Kalahari Desert. During wetter times, these dunes channeled the flow of the great rivers of the area, the Okavango, Chobe, and Zambezi, eastwards with the Limpopo River into the Indian Ocean. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)14. Salar de Atacama (Chile)  Salar de Atacama near Laguna Chaxa, south of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile [ Photo by Heretiq / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]Salar de Atacama is the largest salt flat in Chile. It is located 55 km (34 mi) south of San Pedro de Atacama, is surrounded by mountains and has no drainage outlets. To the east is enclosed by the main chain of the Andes, while to the west lies a secondary mountain range of the Andes called Cordillera de Domeyko. Large volcanoes dominate the landscape, including the Licancabur, Acamarachi, Aguas Calientes and the Láscar. The latter is one of the most active volcanoes in Chile. All of them are located along the eastern side of the Salar de Atacama, forming a generally north-south trending line of volcanoes that separate it from smaller endorheic basins. (based on a wikipediaarticle / cc by-sa)15. Namtso (China)  View on the lake Namtso (Nam-tso/Nam co) and the holy rock [ Photo by Peter Vigier / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The lake lies at an elevation of 4,718 m, and has a surface area of 1,920 square kilometres. This salt lake is the largest lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region. However, it is not the largest lake in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. That title belongs to Qinghai Lake (more than twice the size of Namtso); which lies more than 1,000 km [650 miles] to the north-east, in China's Qinghai province. It is often incorrectly written that Namtso is the highest lake in Tibet (or even the world), or the highest salt lake in the world, but there are many smaller lakes at altitudes of more than 5,500m in the Himalayas and in the Andes. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)16. Larnaca Salt Lake (Cyprus)  Hala Sultan Tekke, Larnaca Salt Lake [ Photo by Aantoniou / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Larnaca Salt Lake to the west of the town of Larnaca. It is a complex network of four salt lakes (3 of them interconnected) of different sizes. The largest is lake Aliki followed by lake Orphani, lake Soros and lake Spiro. They form the second largest salt lake in Cyprus after the Limassol Salt Lake. The total surface area of the lakes adds up to 2.2 km² and being just off the road leading to Larnaca International Airport is one of the most distinctive landmarks of the area. It is considered one of the most important wetlands of Cyprus and it has been declared a Ramsar site, Natura 2000 site, Special Protected Area under the Barcelona Convention and an Important Bird Area (IBA). It is surrounded by halophytic scrubland and on its bank lies the Hala Sultan Tekke, one of the holiest of shrines within Ottoman Islam. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)17. Lake Assal (Djibouti) Lake Assal is a crater lake in central Djibouti, located at the southern border of Tadjoura Region, touching Dikhil Region, some 120 km (75 mi) west of Djibouti city. It lies 155 m (509 ft) below sea level in the Afar Depression and its shores comprise the lowest point on land in Africa and the second lowest land depression on Earth after the Dead Sea. It measures 19 by 7 km (4.3 mi) and has an area of 54 km2 (21 sq mi). The maximum depth is 40 m (130 ft), whereas the mean depth is 7.4 m (24 ft), which makes for a water volume of 400 million cubic metres (320,000 acre·ft). The catchment area measures 900 km2 (350 sq mi), and there is just a residual runoff of fresh water into the lake. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)18. Lake Mariout (Egypt)  Dried out section of Lake Mariout, en:Alexandria, Egypt, for salt refining industry. [ Photo by Amr Fayez / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Lake Mariout is a salt lake, or rather brackish, with an area of about 250 square km in northern Egypt. It is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by the narrow isthmus on which the city of Alexandria was built. The lake shore is home to fisheries and saltworks. Some of the marshy areas around the lake have been reclaimed for new building as the city grows. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)19. Lake Abbe (Ethiopia)  Piste am Lac Abbe [ Photo by Rolf Cosar / CC BY 3.0 ]Lake Abbe or Lake Abhe Bad is a salt lake lying on the Ethiopia-Djibouti border, and is one of a chain of six connected lakes which also includes (from north to south) lakes Gargori, Laitali, Gummare, Bario and Afambo. Lake Abbe is the ultimate destination of the waters of the Awash River. Lake Abbe lies at the Afar Triple Junction, the central meeting place for the three pieces of the Earth’s crust, a defining feature of the Afar Depression; here three pieces of Earth’s crust are each pulling away from that central point, though not all at the same speed. On the northwest shore rises Mount Dama Ali (1069 meters), a dormant volcano, while along the southwestern and southern shores extend vast salt flats, 10 kilometers in width. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)20. Lonar Crater Lake (India)  Lonar Crater [ Photo by Amitabhkhare / public domain ]Lonar Lake, which was created by a meteor hitting the Earth during the Pleistocene epoch, is a saltwater lake at Lonar in Buldana district, Maharashtra, India. The impact crater thereby formed is the only hypervelocity meteoritic impact crater on basalt rock. A lake that evolved in the resulting basaltic rock formation, is both saline and alkaline in nature. Geologists, ecologists, archaeologists, naturalists and astronomers have reported several studies on the various aspects of this crater lake ecosystem. Lonar Lake has a mean diameter of 1.2 kilometres (3,900 ft) and is about 137 metres (449 ft) below the crater rim. The meteor crater rim is about 1.8 kilometres (5,900 ft) in diameter. The circular depression bears a saline water lake in its central portion. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)21. Dead Sea (Jordan, Israel)  Dead Sea [ Photo by David Shankbone / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]The Dead Sea, also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Israel and the West Bank to the west, and Jordan to the east. Its surface and shores are 422 metres (1,385 ft) below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface on dry land. The Dead Sea is 378 m (1,240 ft) deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. It is also one of the world's saltiest bodies of water, with 33.7% salinity, though Lake Assal (Djibouti), Garabogazköl and some hypersaline lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica (such as Don Juan Pond) have reported higher salinities. It is 8.6 times more salty than the ocean. This salinity makes for a harsh environment where animals cannot flourish, hence its name. The Dead Sea is 67 kilometres (42 mi) long and 18 kilometres (11 mi) wide at its widest point. (based on a wikipediaarticle / cc by-sa)22. Lake Elmenteita (Kenya)  Lake Elementaita [ Photo by Rotsee2 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Lake Elmenteita, also spelled Elementaita, is a soda lake, in the eastern limb of East Africa's Great Rift Valley, about 120 km northwest of Nairobi, Kenya. Elmenteita is derived from the Masaai word muteita, meaning "dust place", a reference to the dry and dusty quality of the area, especially between January and March. The town of Gilgil is located near the lake. In the south-to-north sequence of Rift Valley lakes, Elmenteita is located between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. The major Nairobi-Nakuru highway runs along the nearby escarpment affording motorists a spectacular vista towards the lake. At the southern end of the lake lie the "Kekopey" hot springs, in which the Tilapia grahami breed. Very popular for bathing, the local Masai claim that it can cure AIDS. The reed beds nearby are fishing grounds for night herons and pelicans. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)23. Sutton Salt Lake (New Zealand)  The Sutton Salt Lake is the only Salt Lake in New Zealand. [ Photo by Ulrich Lange, Dunedin, New Zealand / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]Der Salzsee befindet sich auf der Südinsel Neuseelands etwa 65 km nordwestlich von Dunedin entfernt. Er liegt auf 250 Meter Höhe in der relativ trockenen Region von Otago. Die Distanz zum Pazifischen Ozean beträgt lediglich 50 km. Zu erreichen ist der etwa zwei Hektar große See über einen Abzweig vom Highway 87 in der Nähe von Sutton etwa 8 km von Middlemarch entfernt. Entstanden ist der Sutton Salt Lake unter den besonderen Bedingungen des windigen kühlen Seeklimas der neuseeländischen Südinsel und den spezifischen geologischen Gegebenheiten. In einer nur 5 Meter tiefen felsengebetteten Senke, die keinen Zufluss und keinen Abfluss hat, sammelte sich Wasser, welches ausschließlich von den Niederschlägen kam. Der schieferartige Felsboden ließ einen Kontakt mit dem Grundwasser nicht zu. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)24. Lake Baskunchak (Russia)  Salt lake Baskunchak (Russian: Баскунчак) in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. [ Photo by High Contrast / CC BY 2.0 DE ]The surface elevation of the lake is 21 m below sea level. It is fed by a river that draws from an area of 11,000 km². The salinity of the lake is about 300 g/l. Since the 8th century its salt was mined and distributed via the Silk Road. Nowadays the lake's salt of distinct purity (99.8 % NaCl) covers 80 % of Russia's salt production. Depending on need, about 1.5 million to 5 million tons of salt are mined per year. The hill is pushed up about 1 mm per year by a salt dome. Sinkholes, and Karst caves of up to 1.5 km length lead through the hill. It also is the only area in Europe where Triassic lagerstätten surface. To the local Kalmyk people, it is a holy hill. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)25. Lake Elton (Russia)  Lake Elton in summer [ Photo by Vissarion / public domain ]Lake Elton (Russian: Эльтон) is a salt lake in Volgograd Oblast, Russia, near the border with Kazakhstan. It has an area of 150 km² and is from 0.3 to 0.6 m deep. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)26. Chott el Djerid (Tunisia)  Chott el Djerid [ Photo by Jaume Ollé / CC BY 3.0 ]It is the largest salt pan of the Sahara with a surface area of over 7,000 km² (some sources state 5,000 km²). Due to the extreme climate with annual rainfall of only 100 mm and temperatures reaching 50° C, water evaporates from the lake. In summer Chott el Djerid is almost entirely dried up, and numerous fata morganas occur. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa) |
Sunday, December 5, 2010
SALINE LAKES PART TWO
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