Salt Evaporation Ponds

View of Isla San Franciso

We Finally Escape

The Sea of Cortez extends 600 miles from Cabo to Guaymas.
The Sea of Cortez is the second most diverse marine body in the world. It is home to 31 species of whales and dolphins. The region also serves as a breeding ground for sea lions and marine turtles, and is a migratory corridor for 210 bird species. There are some 500 fish species, 4848 known species of invertebrates, 626 forms of algae live in the region.
With a vast geologic history of plates pulling apart and creating new crust under the Sea of Cortez, the islands which lie near the fault lines expose colourful striate layers of pink, ivory and black rock. The contrast in colours . The islands are both volcanic and non volcanic in origin.
We motored by Los Islotes where Ken and Alanna swam with the Sea Lions at Christmas.
Isla San Francisco is a beautiful crescent shaped bay. The sand is fine white, the water a crystal blue. Great for snorkeling and swimming. The water here is still a little cool.

We continued to Isla San Jose to an abandoned salt mining operation on Punta Salinas. This salt operation was closed about 10 years ago. The people that worked here were brought over from San Evaristo, 4 nm across the strait..

Salt evaporation ponds are shallow man-made ponds designed to produce salts from sea water. The seawater or brine is fed into large ponds and water is drawn out through natural evaporation which allows the salt to be subsequently harvested. The ponds also provide a productive resting and feeding ground for birds.
Due to variable algae concentrations, vivid colors, from pale green to bright red, are created in the evaporation ponds. The color indicates the salinity of the ponds. Micro-organisms change their hues as the salinity of the pond increases. In low to mid-salinity ponds, green algae are predominant. In middle to high salinity ponds, an algae called Dunaliella salina shifts the color to red. Millions of tiny brine shrimp create an orange cast in mid-salinity. I will add pictures to this when I have email.
We stayed the evening in San Evaristo. A very busy fishing village tucked in the Giganta Mountain Range. This little village has a desalination plant giving the people drinking water. There is a school, tienda (store) and a cemetery. They too have salt evaporation ponds. Trucks drive in to bring supplies from La Paz taking back the fish to sell in the city.
I am quite surprise that we have not seen much wildlife with the exception of flying mantas, and the odd dolphin.
It is nice to be away from the marina again. The temps are 100F/38C .

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