Field Journal

Salinas de Maras, man-made salt mines near Cusco, Peru Entry The pools at Maras are cut into the hillside in layers. Water moves from one to the next. It is not still. The surface shifts continuously as it feeds each terrace. Salt builds gradually. It collects at the edges first, then across the surface. When handled, it is fine, dense, and compact. It holds together briefly when pressed, then separates. The crystals are not uniform. Some break immediately, others resist. The