The salt world

Salt marshes and salt mines

The production of sea salt is one of the oldest forms of human intervention in natural areas. Sea salt comes from the natural evaporation of seawater. The salinity of the ponds influences the colour of the micro-organisms, which range from light green to bright red. Salt ponds and salt marshes are home to numerous animal species.

A salt mine is a deposit, usually underground, of rock salt (halite), exploited by man. Some of them are protected by UNESCO. In Colombia, one of them is home to a cathedral. In Yekaterinburg, Russia, one of the most beautiful salt mines in the world has become famous for its mineral-coloured walls.