SAHARA SALT
ORIGINS OF THE SAHARA SALT
The Sahara Desert is located in the northern portion of Africa and covers over 10% of the continent. It is bounded in the east by the Red Sea and it stretches west to the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, the Sahara Desert's northern boundary is the Mediterranean Sea, while in the south it ends at the Sahel. Most of Sahara Desert landscape has been shaped over time by wind and includes sand dunes, sand seas called ergs, barren stone plateaus, gravel plains, dry valleys and salt flats.
Although hot and extremely dry today, it is believed that the Sahara Desert has undergone various climatic shifts for the last few hundred thousand years. During Pleistocene (also called Ice Age) climate was marked by repeated glacial cycles in which continental glaciers pushed to the 40th parallel in some places
It is estimated that, at maximum glacial extent, 30% of the Earth's surface was covered by ice. In those time glaciers existed in the mountains of Ethiopia and to the west in the Atlas mountains. Large lakes developed as a result of the runoff from the glaciers.
In the epoch of Pleistocene and Holocene large lakes covered huge area of Sahara. Through the centuries lakes covered Sahara dried up, leaving salt behind. At present salt lakes are found in central parts of the Sahara. In the summer their area is drying. In winter they are filling up with the water of periodic salt lakes.
SAHARA'S WHITE GOLD
Salt has been produced in the Sahara for over 2½ thousand years. Because salt is essential for health, the Sahara's salt is probably the most valuable item caravans carry trough desert. In hot, dry regions, people and animals lose salt through sweat. Unless they eat more salt, they risk fatigue, cramps or even death. Salt is also used to preserve and flavor food. In fact, many people who live in the Sahara and its southern border, use different types of salt like spices in recipes; poor quality salt is fed to animals. Throughout history salt has been very difficult to obtain in many parts of the world, and people feared a lack of salt the way we in the industrialized world fear a shortage of fuel oil.
Through the centuries trans - Saharan trade linked the Mediterranean economies that demanded gold—and could supply salt—to the sub-Saharan economies, where gold was abundant. Although local supply of salt was sufficient in sub-Saharan Africa, the consumption of Saharan salt was promoted for trade purposes. Camel caravans from North Africa carried bars of salt as well as cloth, tobacco, and metal tools across the Sahara to trading centers like Djenne and Timbuktu on the Niger River. Some items for which the salt was traded include gold, ivory, slaves, skins, kola nuts, pepper, and sugar.
SAHARA SALT
Sahara Salt is a durable and healthy material and thanks to that, can be used as a building material in various projects. The amazing structure of salt and white-yellow shades offer new dimension for interior design.
In addition to visible effect salt has also soothing properties. Salt material has pleasant effect on our mental and emotional condition. Natural salt has 84 minerals, exactly the same that are found in the human body. The most important minerals are magnesium, potassium and calcium to nourish and relax your body. Natural salt is full of negative ions that promote positive energy, relieves stress and creates a balance for your body and mind.
