Rivers come in all varieties in nature: they can be acidic, warm as steamed milk, flowing backwards, and colored in the most unusual hues. Extremely salty rivers also exist, entirely unfit for drinking.
Water bodies with high mineral content can be found in any region of the globe. In our list of the saltiest rivers in the world are water bodies located in Iran, India, the USA, and Russia. Here are the top five saltiest rivers on the planet.
Iran’s Shur River
The renowned Iranian desert Dasht-e Lut, stretching for 900 kilometers, is where the Earth’s thermal pole is located. This anomalously dry and hot region covers an area of 51.8 thousand square kilometers. The only river crossing it is entirely lifeless. The sources of the Shur River are in the northern Husaf Mountains near the city of Birjand (the center of South Khorasan Province) at an altitude of 2.7 kilometers above sea level.
The river penetrates deep into the Dasht-e Lut, covering 200 kilometers of rugged terrain before flowing into the salt mine of the city of Shahdad (Kerman Province), bypassing the Yardangs area – aeolian landforms. The edges of these whimsical natural formations are moistened by salty water, becoming more durable, slowing down erosion, which contributes to the preservation of unique natural objects.
For centuries, a road has passed through the salt marsh through which the river flows, connecting Shahdad to Jiroft and Nehbandan. In the past, caravans moved in strings here, but now cars drive.
The salt content in the water gradually increases, with maximum levels recorded near the central basin of the Lut. The river runs through numerous salt flats, where under the influence of high temperatures, moisture evaporates intensively, and mineral sediment turns the liquid into a thick, milky kefir-like consistency. Due to the significant salt concentration, the flow rate slows significantly.
Despite severe drought, the Shur never dries up, water is constantly in motion, but the closer to the heart of the desert, the shallower the channel becomes. After heavy rains, the river forms a lake, equally salty as itself. During periods of extreme drought, white sediment mixes with sand, creating abstract paintings as if drawn by an unknown brush.
The Shur River, which has been recognized as the saltiest in the world, hosts a power station inaugurated in 2007. The river basin is rich in minerals, which are mined by international companies.
Kempendyai: the harsh charm of the Russian North
The right tributary of the Viluy River, with a length of 266 kilometers and a total basin area of ​​3.1 thousand square kilometers, flows through the picturesque Leno Plateau (Yakutia), its main sources of water being rain and snow.
The source of the water body is Lake Kurun-Kuola. Kempendyai flows into the Viluy River 737 kilometers from its mouth. The width of the riverbed is 10-15 meters, and the maximum depth is 1.5 meters.
The river freezes in the second half of October, with the ice melting by mid-March. Layers of rock salt have been found in the region, which dissolve in the water, turning it into a slightly bitter liquid. The mineral content is 8 grams per liter.
There are salt springs along the riverbank, and a salt plant has been built. Salt mining began here in the early 17th century. The presence of salt not only in the Kempendyai River but also in other water bodies in Yakutia is simple to explain: once upon a time, there was a sea in this territory, which later receded. Lakes appeared in the depressions, and the water gradually evaporated, forming rich deposits several tens of meters thick. Now, water erosion washes away these deposits, making the water bodies salty.
The water of Kempendyai is considered healing and is used to treat osteochondrosis, angina, rheumatism, and other ailments. Despite the significant salt concentration, the river is home to perch, pike, perch, carp, taimen, and other fish species. The shores are covered with deciduous and coniferous forests. The ecologically clean region attracts many tourists from all over Russia.
Solianka – a Yakut wonder
There are more than a dozen rivers with this name in Russia, but only the water body in the Olekminsky district of the Sakha Republic is truly unique: laboratory studies show that there are 21 grams of salt dissolved in every liter of water.
The river erodes massive layers hidden under limestone. It also receives underground streams, with their water seeping through deposits, increasing the concentration of minerals.
Solianka flows into the Lena River near the town of Olekminsk.
Salt River (Arizona) – a freshwater-salt stream
This picturesque river, 322 kilometers long, is located in the southwest of the USA. Its source is located at the confluence of the White and Black Rivers near the White Mountains (Hill County).
The Salt River has many major and minor tributaries. It flows in western and southwestern directions, passing through beautiful canyons, plateaus, desert areas, and mountain ranges along its path.
Several lively settlements are built along its banks, including the state capital, Phoenix. The Salt River merges with the Gila River 24 kilometers from the center of the city.
At its source, the river is fresh, but in the area of the White Mountains of Arizona and further downstream, the water becomes enriched with salt. The region has significant salt deposits, eroded by the Salt River. Additionally, along its banks, the exotic Tamarix shrub grows densely, native to the Middle East and Asia. It prevents soil erosion and withstands drought well. Through its developed root system, the plant extracts salt from the soil and accumulates it in its leaves. The green cover enters the river water and further increases its salinity.
Luni – an Indian gem
Luni completes the list of the five saltiest rivers in the world. The length of this quite large river, flowing through the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, is 495 kilometers. Luni is the only major water body in the region – it originates from the Aravalli Range, crosses plains and hills, ending in the desert. In addition to the water composition, its main feature is that it does not flow into any other body of water. Luni either dries up or floods settlements, depending on the air temperature and rainfall.
The name of the river comes from the ancient Indian lavanavari, literally meaning “salty river,” as Luni is indeed very salty.