Geography
Why Playa Lakes Exhibit Episodic Flooding and Evaporite Crusts
Quick fact
Some playa lakes flood only a few times per decade, yet each flood can turn hundreds of square kilometers into water—and the resulting evaporite crust can be rich in valuable minerals like lithium, borax, and salt.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a huge lake that appears overnight after a storm, then vanishes within weeks, leaving behind a white, salty crust. How can such a lake exist in the desert?