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Salt flat. Aerial photograph of a dried salt lake in Death Valley, California, USA. The flat has formed as Death Valley has no water outlet, therefore all water is lost through evaporation. The area is high in mineral deposits, which dissolve during infrequent rain fall. Over thousands of years this has led to a large salt deposit being laid down. The polygon shapes are between one and five metres wide. They form due to cracks in the ground, which collect moisture. Salt crystallizing out of the water pile up along these cracks forming the landscape seen. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/BERNHARD EDMAIER) === ===