| Summary: | Unlike what most people think, inland salt waters are quite many and widespread all over the world. Mostly located in semi-arid regions' endorheic basins, they also can be found at high latitudes (e.g., Antartica). Inland saline water differs from sea water not only in their toal dissolved salt content but also in the ionic composition and ionic rates. In this paper we present useful definitions, methodology and ideas related to inland salt lakes. Moreover, inland salt waters are present as a unique ecosystem for macroscopic (sensu Margalef, 1978;1981) ecological studies and as a potential source of natural resources e.g. salts, aquatic organisms such as algae (Spirulina, Dunaliella) and aquatic invertebrates (Artemia, corixid eggs -the Mexican ahuautle-), etcetera.
|
|---|