Why do some deserts have salt flats instead of sand?
Quick Answer
Salt flats form where water flows into a closed basin, evaporates, and leaves dissolved minerals behind. Over time, repeated evaporation builds a hard white crust of salt and other evaporites.
The Full Story
Salt flats, or playas, develop in low-lying basins with no outlet to the sea. Rain or floodwater brings dissolved salts into the basin, but because the water cannot drain away, it eventually evaporates under hot, dry conditions. The minerals left behind accumulate as a crust of salt, gypsum, or other evaporite deposits. Places such as Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni or the Bonneville Salt Flats are famous examples. These landscapes can be incredibly flat because the basin has been repeatedly leveled by water and sediment over long periods.
Key Facts
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"How does a desert become a giant salt mirror?"
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