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Peru, Sacred Valley, Maras is a town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, 40 kilometers north of Cuzco. The town is well known for its nearby salt evaporation ponds, in use since Inca times. The salt-evaporation ponds are up-slope, less than a kilometer west of the town.
Since pre-Inca times, salt  has been obtained in Maras by evaporating salty water (provided by a nearby  subterranean stream) in the sun, leaving the salt behind. In the mines there are thousands of salt-pools. The Sacred Valley of the Incas or Urubamba Valley is a valley in the Andes  of Peru, close to the Inca capital of  Cusco and below the ancient sacred city of Machu Picchu. The valley is generally understood to include everything  between Pisac  and Ollantaytambo, parallel to the Urubamba River, or Vilcanota River or Wilcamayu, as this Sacred  river is called when passing through the valley. It is fed by numerous rivers which descend through adjoining  valleys and gorges, and contains numerous archaeological remains and villages. The valley was appreciated by the  Incas due to its special geographical and climatic qualities. It was one of the empire's main points for the  extraction of natural wealth, and the best place for maize production in Peru.http://bem.2be.pl/IS/bolivia_380.jpg
Sacred Valley Salt Mines in Maras, Peru, seen during a hot summer day.
Salt evaporation ponds of Maras, Peru.  Maras is a town in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the Cuzco Region of Peru. The evaporation ponds have been in use since before Inca times. The salt-evaporation ponds are up-slope, less than a kilometer west of the town. Silhouette of an unrecognizable man can be seen walking down the evaporation pools.
Terraced salt mines of Salinas de Maras - Peru
Terraced salt evaporation ponds in the Salt Mines of Maras. Sacred Valley, Cusco, Peru
Ancient salt ponds at the Salineras de Maras, fed by a natural spring, become a landscape of lines on a hillside in the Andes.
detail of the mountain salt pans with the white of the salt and the brown of the water which is turning into salt with evaporation in Peru in South America
View of salt ponds in Maras, Perú in the sacred valley
Maras, Peru
The image depicts the remarkable Maras salt ponds located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas near Cusco, Peru. The ancient salt mining terraces form a stunning geometric pattern across the landscape, with thousands of shallow pools filled with salt water that evaporates to leave behind crystalline salt. The ponds are carved into the mountainside and have been used for salt extraction since pre-Inca times, creating a unique and visually striking sight that attracts tourists from around the world.
The Salt Mines of Maras ( Spanish: Salineras de Maras ) is one of the largest salt extraction centers of prehispanic origin in Cusco. It is in the Urubamba Province in Cusco in southeast Peru, at an elevation of 3,200 m above sea level.
Kati Thanda Lake Eyre aerial Photography
Salinas de Maras salt mines in Cusco, Peru
Salineras de Maras, Peru - May 25 2010: The salineras (salt evaporation ponds) in Maras. Salt has been harvested in Maras since the time of the Inca Empire. The site has around 3000 ponds. As the location is surrounded by salty mountains, subterrean water deposits the salty water in the ponds; the water evaporates due to the exposure to the sun. After approx. 1 month the level of salt reaches 10 centimetres and is removed in sacks.
Scenic view of Maras, Peru, showcasing the stunning salt terraces
Salt mine. Peru.
Mountain salt extraction wells at Salinas de Maras, Peru;
Maras, Peru
High angle close-up view of salt from evaporated lake in Camargue
This breathtaking aerial view captures the ancient salt ponds of Maras, Peru, a fascinating landscape of terraced pools carved into the mountainside. The ponds, filled with salt water from a subterranean spring, create a stunning pattern of white and brown hues as the water evaporates and leaves behind the precious mineral. The Inca created this ingenious system of salt harvesting over 2,000 years ago, and it remains in use today, providing a glimpse into the rich history and traditions of the region.
Salt crystal formations on a pink background. Detail of a salt flat pond. Photo taken in Castro Marim traditional Salt Flats on a summer sunny day. These salt flats are located in the south of Portugal, by the Guadiana River, near the Spanish border. The area is named Sapal de Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António Natural Reserve.
Natural coastal scenery in winter
The Salt Mines of Maras ( Spanish: Salineras de Maras ) is one of the largest salt extraction centers of prehispanic origin in Cusco. It is in the Urubamba Province in Cusco in southeast Peru, at an elevation of 3,200 m above sea level.
Maras, Peru - October 18, 2012: The Maras salt ponds located at the Peru's Sacred Valley.
Mountain salt extraction wells at Salinas de Maras, Peru;
Salt production in Peru
Peru, Cusco-March 15,2025:  Tourists visiting the salt mines of Maras, marveling at the unique terraced landscape and ancient Inca techniques.
Maras salt mines looking like paint pots, view from above, Peru, South America
sunny and dry landscape
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