Overview:

Maras Salt Ponds In Peru are located in southern Peru, in the province of Maras. The area is an enclosed basin and each year, during the dry season, water from the nearby Qoripujio mountain streams pour into the basin. This water is then diverted into a grid of 3,000 individual shallow salt pans which are man made, ancient and polygonal-shaped. These pans are then left to evaporate in the sun, creating a highly concentrated solution in the brine. The salt is then harvested and sold all over Peru. These salt ponds are a unique part of Peru’s cultural and historical heritage, and are a major tourist attraction. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Peru
Prominent Features:

1. Ancient Origin: The Maras Salt Ponds have been in operation for more than 500 years, making them a part of ancient Incan history. 2. Unique Evaporation Method: Unlike salt ponds that use evaporation through the sun, the Maras Salt Ponds use a unique natural underground spring system. 3. Complex System of Motions: The Maras Salt Ponds have thousands of channels and pools that work together to form a complex system of evaporation and production of salt. 4. Colorful Appearance: The terraces of the salt ponds are clearly visible from miles away due to their unique pinkish, white, and blue colors. 5. Locally-Owned Enterprises: The salt ponds are managed by local cooperatives who have been involved for generations in the production and sale of salt. 6. Religious Significance: Salt is seen as a spiritual substance in the Inca religion and is traditionally offered to the gods in ceremonies. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Peru.

History:

The Maras Salt Ponds are located in the Urubamba Valley of Peru, near the small town of Maras. The salt pans have been used since Incan times, and have become an iconic symbol of the traditional way of life in the Andean highlands. The complex of salt pans covers over 3000m2 with an altitude of 3,200 to 3,600m high in the Andes mountains. There are approximately 3000 salt pans which produce salt from natural springs, which is then collected and processed. The water is collected in a central channel which distributes it evenly over the salt pans. The water is evaporated over the course of several days, and a layer of salt is left behind in each pan. The salt pans were a crucial resource for the Incan Empire, who realized the importance of the area during their rule of the area from the 14th to 16th centuries. The salt was used to flavor food and as a preservative. As the years went on in colonial times, ownership of the salt pans continued to be passed down through families. Today, the production of salt using the Maras salt pans is still an active tradition as passed down through the generations of people of Maras. During the dry season, it is a common practice for members of the local communities to gather to collectively operate the salt pans. Still using traditional tools and techniques, they collect the salt from the pans to dry and package for use, as well as for sale to tourists visiting the region. The Maras Salt Ponds are one of the most unique and distinctive places to visit in Peru. The sight of the salty ponds, surrounded by high Andes mountains, serves as a reminder of the rich cultural history and traditional practices of the region. Visit one of the famous monuments of Peru with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Maras Salt Ponds, located in Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas, are a series of over 3,000 terraced salt evaporation ponds which have been used to harvest salt since the pre-Inca era. 2. The salt is extracted from the spring water that emerges from a nearby mountain and collects in a lake, which is then channeled through a network of narrow canals to the various ponds. 3. The ponds range in size from small, basin-like structures to large, pool-like ones. The largest ponds measure up to nine meters square. 4. The salt is naturally processed using just the sun and wind, and each pond forms part of the supply chain for supplying salt to the local markets. 5. The Maras Salt Ponds attract thousands of visitors from all over the world and have become part of the local tourist circuit. 6. The Maras Salt Ponds are located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which is packed with Incan ruins and archaeological sites, making for a culturally rich experience. One of the historical monuments of Peru, it tells the story of a bygone era