Marsalfron Salt Pans, Malta
Posted by: 
Torgut
N 36° 04.756 E 014° 14.808
33S E 432183 N 3993002
Awesome salt pans site in the smaller island of Gozo, in Malta. Also known as Qbajjar bay salt pans.
Waymark Code: WMCM8J
Location: Malta
Date Posted: 09/20/2011
Views: 21
The pans here were carved in the stone (basically calcium carbonate, but also contains silica, clay, silt and sand) by local people, centuries ago. It's an impressive work, considering the extension of the exploration.
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The salt extraction is still ongoing at these pans, taking place in the spring and summer months. The pans are passed from generation to generation of workers on the island, and have been for the last 150 years. Because of this, be careful walking around. Stay away of the pans. You are welcome to take a look and walk around but don't step on them.
Evaporation is the key word here. Unlike other salt pans, here the water is pumped from the sea to a few main pans, known as "warming pans". From here, further canals will deliver the water to individual salt pans. The process of forming salt crystals then begins, with the salt water warming in the sun, and evaporation taking place. As the water evaporates, the salinity of the remaining water in the pans increases until salt crystals begin to form. The whole process takes between 5 and 7 days to complete, after which time, the pans are cleared by hand, and the process starts again.
Kind: Salt Pan
Is the place still active?: yes
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