Salineras of Maras

The salt is formed by evaporation of the spring water that flows out of the hill nearby. The water temperature is about 21-22 degrees C. This heating is due to the volcanic activity below the earth. Due to the heated water, salt from prehistoric salt tubes below the earth melts and runs with the water out to this place.
The Incas created a system of about 3000 terraced pools to store the water and let it evaporate with the heat of the sun during the dry season. The salt fields are worked with exactly the same technique as the Incas were using. In fact, it is the descendents of the workers that used to work during the Inca times that still work here.Читать далее