The Badwater Basin Salt Flats are noted as the lowest point in North America. The salt crystals covering the surface of the flats are extremely delicate, so driving and, in some places, even walking, are prohibited to avoid tire tracks or footprints. The top layer of salt crystals are formed from rainfall that is almost immediately evaporated due to heat. I would be interested to know the source of the salts in the salt flats, certainly it cannot be from rainfall alone - the flats are 200 square feet. It seems that water comes down from the high mountains and runs into the basin, and that minerals and particles from rocks erode from water streams and become mixed in with the salts. I'm curious about what lies underneath the top layer of salt. Is it mud? Rock? A geologic map might reveal the source of the salts, as well as the bottom layer material.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Badwater Salt Flats - Week 7
The Badwater Basin Salt Flats are noted as the lowest point in North America. The salt crystals covering the surface of the flats are extremely delicate, so driving and, in some places, even walking, are prohibited to avoid tire tracks or footprints. The top layer of salt crystals are formed from rainfall that is almost immediately evaporated due to heat. I would be interested to know the source of the salts in the salt flats, certainly it cannot be from rainfall alone - the flats are 200 square feet. It seems that water comes down from the high mountains and runs into the basin, and that minerals and particles from rocks erode from water streams and become mixed in with the salts. I'm curious about what lies underneath the top layer of salt. Is it mud? Rock? A geologic map might reveal the source of the salts, as well as the bottom layer material.
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