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Why do some deserts contain salt flats?
DesertsGeology
Quick Answer
Salt flats form when water evaporates but the dissolved minerals are left behind. In closed basins, salts accumulate over time instead of being washed to the sea.
The Full Story
Salt flats, or playas, often develop in desert basins where water collects temporarily but has no outlet to the ocean. As the water evaporates, it leaves behind dissolved salts and other minerals brought in by streams or groundwater. Repeated wet-and-dry cycles can build thick crusts of halite, gypsum, and other evaporites. The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the largest salt flat in the world, covering about 10,000 kmΒ².
Key Facts
1.Salt flats form by evaporation in closed basins
2.The Salar de Uyuni is about 10,000 kmΒ²
3.Evaporites include halite and gypsum
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why do some deserts turn into giant white salt mirrors?"