shaṭṭ

The term "shaṭṭ" refers to a saline lake or salt-crusted depression, often found in arid or semi-arid regions. These bodies of water have salinities exceeding 3 grams per liter. Saline lakes are widespread globally and include significant bodies like the Caspian Sea and the Dead Sea.1

The formation of salt lakes is often linked to a balance between water input and output, with evaporation playing a key role, and the presence of endorheic drainage basins (basins that do not drain to the sea). Salinity itself is the measure of dissolved salts in water, primarily sodium chloride, but also including other ions. Saline water has distinct properties from freshwater, such as higher electrical conductivity and a lower freezing point.12

Human impact, such as the diversion of freshwater sources for irrigation, can drastically alter saline lakes, leading to increased salinity, environmental degradation, and catastrophic effects on local populations and ecosystems, as seen with the Aral Sea.1