Salty Ponds

• Prize
  Silver in Science/Environment
• Photographer
  Celia Ruiz de Castilla

The Salinas de Maras Cusco,these salt ponds pre-date inca times,sometime in the 1400s. Approximately 3,000 small wells fill with salt water from a natural spring above them. When the water evaporates, the salt left behind gradually solidifies, and is ready to be harvested by families living in the community. The salt is collected by hand by workers, who load the salt into sacks to haul down the hive-like structure.