What would America be without its gorgeous and diverse landscapes? It’s nearly impossible to imagine. These colorful natural sites attract visitors from near and far, and it’s no mystery why. One such example is located in California and it may just be the most colorful place on the entire planet. When seen from above, the Salt Ponds of San Francisco Bay look like something from a painting. Giant, geometric blocks of neon color decorate the landscape in a way that is totally unexpected and surreal.
The San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds make up an area of roughly 8,000 acres along the South San Francisco Bay.
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The San Fransisco are has long been known for its salt production. Since 1854, over 80% of wetlands have been used for salt mining.
Tom Hilton/flickr
The salt industry has blossomed because of this region’s Mediterranean-like climate. Most of the ponds today are owned by Cargill, Inc, which is a major food production company.
V-Talk/YouTube
These evaporation ponds are immediately recognizable for their otherworldly colors, which are actually a result of micro-algae reacting to various levels of salinity.
V-Talk/YouTube
Bright green hues means a low-salinity environment where green algae can thrive, whereas corals and reds imply that algae Dunaliella is producing hues of red at high-salinity levels.
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Perhaps most intriguing of all is the peach color that is created as a result of a high volume of tiny brine shrimp at medium salinity.
David Becker/flickr Despite the fact that the salt ponds may have had commercial beginnings, there’s no denying the fact that these colors are truly a natural phenomenon. The area is on a 30-year plan which will eventually reintroduce Bay waters into the marshlands, so these bright blocks of colors will not mark the landscape forever.
What are your thoughts on the colorful salt ponds of San Fransisco Bay? Be sure to share your thoughts with us!
Doc Searls/flickr
Tom Hilton/flickr
V-Talk/YouTube
Wikicommons
David Becker/flickr
Despite the fact that the salt ponds may have had commercial beginnings, there’s no denying the fact that these colors are truly a natural phenomenon. The area is on a 30-year plan which will eventually reintroduce Bay waters into the marshlands, so these bright blocks of colors will not mark the landscape forever.
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