Salt Lakes from Above

florian.grieger(66)

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2023-02-02 16:51

When I saw an aerial photograph of a salt lake, I was instantly mesmerized by the way they look from above, with their intricate patterns, vibrant colors, and abstract shapes. In fact, I would argue that salt lakes from above almost look like abstract paintings.

Salt lakes are typically formed in arid or semi-arid regions, where evaporation is high and there is little to no inflow of fresh water. Over time, the water evaporates, leaving behind a concentrated solution of salt and other minerals. This solution eventually dries, forming a salt crust on the lake bed.

From above, the salt crust appears as a mosaic of intricate patterns and vibrant colors, much like the brushstrokes in an abstract painting. The different colors and patterns are created by variations in the types of minerals present in the salt crust, as well as changes in the water's salinity and the presence of algae or other microorganisms.

So when I was traveling through France last summer and saw that there were some salt lakes on the way, I didn't hesitate to include them in my route and try my best to capture them with my (rather shitty) drone. Here are some of the results I'm most happy with!

Besides the really colorful ones above, I also encountered one location where the salt pans were rather colorless. However, the different shades of gray made it look even more minimalistic, which I like as well.