These Salt Ponds in the South San Francisco Bay Area Are a Technicolor Wonder

| © Jason Hawkes / REX Shutterstock
Shayne Fergusson

With vivid hues of pink, orange and green these salt evaporation ponds create a colourful patchwork landscape.

Photographer Jason Hawkes captured the colourful hues as he flew over the South San Francisco Bay area in a helicopter. The British aerial photographer caught the breathtaking shots whilst leaning out the side of the copter as it swooped over the stunning vistas.

‘Nearly 8,000 acres of the South San Francisco Bay is made up of salt evaporation ponds, all of which is protected by the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge,’ said Hawkes.

Hawkes goes on to explain, ‘evaporation ponds provide important habitat for more than 70 species of birds. As the ponds are shallow – only 5 metre deep – it’s easy for shorebirds to find food in the low salinity ponds.’

‘Flying over the bay you see the incredible and distinctive colours: beautiful green, red, pink and yellow hues, coloured by the microorganisms that thrive at varying salinity levels,’ he says.

‘The microorganisms in each lake are determined by their tolerance to salinity, and the colors are reactions to salt levels. These evaporation lakes show all sorts of colours and hues from green, where low salinity encourages green algae to grow, to incredible coral pink and reds that is caused by the algae Dunaliella.’

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article