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SalinasLocation: Rediscover Machu Picchu > The Sacred Valley > Salinas -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Salinas, Where the Salt is Coming From
This place is northwest of the archaeological site of Moray, near the village of Maras. It is located at about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the River Vilcanota, which runs north of this place from the east to the west.
The name "Salinas" is suggestive. The area is a salt-washing, salt-extracting area. We'd call it humorously, "salt refinery"! At Salinas, the salt is being washed with the usage of evaporation terraces constructed on the sides of a hill. There are approximately 3.000 pools here, all of them together constitute the terrace system. Somewhat similar to the agricultural terraces that we well know. The size of a single pool is about 5 m² (58 ft²) on average.
How the salt-extracting process works: the locals run water into the pools, then drain it and the remaining little water in the bottom is left to evaporate. Salt is left behind afterwards. This whole process takes about 1 month for completion. The remaining salt on the bottom of the pools usually has a thickness of 10 cm. Locals gather it after evaporation. Salt is not only used in the kitchen, but it is also used in a variety of therapies and also in farming: animals, like kettle require huge blocks of salt, which they lick.
The sight of the "salt mine" - as many call the Salinas - is rather surreal. We warmly recommend you to visit this place, especially if you're a photographer.
The Incas have been extracting salt here hundreds of years ago using the same technique.
The Salinas salt pool on the hillsides of the Sacred Valley
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