Death Valley Salt Pan Cracks
March 30, 2011
Photographer: Marli Miller
Summary Author: Marli Miller
The above photo depicts the Salt Pan of Death Valley, California at sunrise, with a view to the northward. The valley floor of Death Valley floods periodically with salt-laden water; when the water evaporates, it precipitates the salt. The polygons form by cracking of the playa surface as it dries, and stand out in relief because new salt precipitates in the cracks. Tepee structure forms where slabs of salt rest against each other. Photo taken January 1, 2008. [Revised December 2017]
Photo Details: Camera Maker: Canon; Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D; Lens: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM; Focal Length: 24.0mm; Aperture: f/10.0; Exposure Time: 0.400 s (1/3); ISO equiv: 100.