April 12, 2007
Another day in Guerrero Negro, BajaMex
Salt, salt and more salt


Today’s tour activity was a tour of the 4th largest salt evaporation ponds in the world. While it doesn’t seem exciting to watch salt form, the process is indeed interesting. Covering 80,000 acres, the complex was established in 1955, as was the town. (The name, Guerrero Negro, means 'black warrior', but was the name of a whaling ship that chased a large whale into the lagoon, harpooned it, took it aboard, and promptly beached on a sand bar. Too much blubber.)

The truck-trailers hauling the salt carry 360 tons (120 tons per hopper) per load, and discharge the load in just under one minute. This is ‘sea salt’, bereft of iodine and intended primarily for use in the chemical industry....not for margaritas.







A group dinner in the evening with (apparently) alcohol-free margaritas. Made from orange juice instead of margarita mix, the restaurant made a tidy profit at the bar tonight. These were voted the worst margaritas of the trip. The fish was represented as 'sea bass', but I believe that this is a loose Mexican translation for the dreaded Tilapia. They fooled me again.

On the road to Catavina in the morning as we head for the final days of the trip. Will not be returning to Guerrero Negro, even if Moby Dick is spotted in the lagoon.