Mining Salt in a Deadly Pink Lake: 60,000 Tons a Year

Mining 60,000 metric tons of salt from a pink lake that’s even saltier than the Dead Sea is one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the global salt industry. This video takes you inside an extreme environment where workers face intense heat, razor-sharp crystals, and highly corrosive water—conditions capable of damaging skin, equipment, and even boats. Despite these risks, local communities rely on this traditional salt-harvesting system for their livelihoods, producing massive quantities of salt every year.

The documentary reveals how the lake’s unique rosy color is created by halophilic microorganisms that thrive in ultra-saline water. These organisms are harmless to humans, but their presence signals an incredibly high salt concentration—often several times greater than seawater. This is what makes the lake one of the world’s most efficient natural salt producers, but also one of the most physically punishing places to work.

Through interviews and on-site footage, the video explains each stage of the harvesting process: breaking hardened salt slabs, lifting heavy loads onto small wooden boats, transporting the salt to shore, drying it under the sun, and preparing it for regional and international markets. The industry may look traditional, but it plays an important economic role, supporting families and contributing to regional food preservation, chemical production, and supply chains.

This story also highlights environmental challenges, including changing weather patterns, water management issues, and the delicate balance required to keep the lake’s ecosystem stable for future generations.

By combining field reporting, scientific insight, and firsthand accounts, this video offers a rare look into one of the world’s most unique and hazardous salt-mining operations.

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Daniel Chyi 戚钊

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