03/09/2026
Some of Africa's largest salt pans are so vast and so bright that they can be seen from space!
Places like the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana are the remnants of an ancient "mega-lake" that covered thousands of square kilometres thousands of years ago. As the climate became drier, the lake gradually disappeared, leaving behind enormous, flat salt-rich plains.
Over time, water evaporated but the minerals remained. The white crust of salt and other minerals reflects sunlight exceptionally well, making the pans stand out against the darker surrounding landscape.
For much of the year, these landscapes appear almost lifeless. But after seasonal rains, shallow water transforms parts of the pans into temporary wetlands, attracting flamingos, zebras, wildebeest, and a host of other wildlife.
What looks like an empty white expanse from space is actually the legacy of an ancient lake and one of Africa's most dramatic seasonal ecosystems.