Stop slideshow Index Stop slideshow
Solar Evaporation Ponds and Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah, USA | Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park - Utah, USA (IMG_6169to80.jpg)

Solar Evaporation Ponds and Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah, USA

The bright blues on the desert floor are solar evaporation ponds for a mine owned by Interpid Potash Inc. Potash is potassium chloride, a salt found in the Paradox Formation. Salt deposites from ancient seas made up this formation as it evaporated and was buried by other sediments.
Water is pumped down into the formation to dissolve the salt. This salt water is then pumped into the shallow, vynil-lined ponds. A blue dye is added to speed up evaporation. The dry desert air and many sunny days make this a productive operation.
Copyright © Yair Karelic Photography. All rights reserved