Show Navigation
Latin America All Galleries
Download

Latin America, Precolumbian saltmines

78 images Created 21 Jan 2010

LATIN AMERICA, INDIOS SALT MINES OF THE ANDEAN MOUNTAINS
In the remote and aislated valleys of the Andean mountains some local Indian communities still live of saltmines like many centuries ago. In Perù the Salinas de Maras, nearly 3000 wells of spectacular salt-mines on a plateau at 3.000 meters of height that dominates the Sacred of the Incas, have been used since the Inca's Tahuantinsuyo times. Still today the salt mines are worked from a cooperative of comuneros, peasants of the nearby villane of Maras. The people channel the salt water that bubbles to the surface from a spring called Qoripujio towards men-made wells. Exposed to the strong sun of the mountains, the water evaporates and the salt remains on the surface to be transported later to the market to be sold. The women, the "salt watchers", execute the heavier part of the job, with the hands deformed from the arthrosis, the eyes hit from vapors. the salti s still transported with mules to Maras to be sold in Cusco. once the Maras salt was sold till in Amazonas but today is not competitive and a 50 kilos bag is paid only one dollar. Much more south are Salinas Grandes, in northwestern Argentine's province of Jujuy, nearly 4000 meters high, not far from Bolivia's border. Salinas Grandes, 212 km square kilometer, are the third of the world for surface. Here the salineros, the salt workers, still made offers to the Pachamama, the Inca's Mother Earth, also asking for help against the exploitation of the companies that buy their salt.

Loading ()...

  • Sacred Valley. Colonial church near Maras, in the back the Sacred Valley with Nevado de la Veronica glacier (7550 m.).
    em1010121.jpg
  • Sacred Valley. Colonial church near Maras, in the back the Sacred Valley with Nevado de la Veronica glacier (7550 m.).
    em1010122.jpg
  • Sacred Valley. Colonial church near Maras, in the back the Sacred Valley with Nevado de la Veronica glacier (7550 m.).
    em1010123.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010125.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010128.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010129.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010131.jpg
  • Maras member of the cooperative mining the salt deposits. The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010133.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010134.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010135.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010136.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010137-2.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010138-2.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010139.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010140.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010141.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010142.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010143.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010144.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010145.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010146.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010148.jpg
  • The salineras of Maras, in the Sacred Valley not far from Ciusco, are salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, a huge accumulation of thousand of terraces watered by a underground stream.
    em1010149.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010153.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010154.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010156.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010157.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010158.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010159.jpg
  • The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010160.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010161.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010164.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010165.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010167.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010168.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010169.jpg
  • Maras salt fields the aguacero, the  man in charge to check the water situation of any salt field. The salineras, worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a saline underground stream.
    em1010170.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010171.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010172.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010175.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010176.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010177.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010178.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010179.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream. The cooperative's warehouse.
    em1010182.jpg
  • The salineras, salt-pans worked since pre-hispanic times, are a huge accumulation of terraces, watered by a underground stream.
    em1010184.jpg
  • Maras village, old colonial houses. Here lived many Incas nobles after the conquistadores defeated Inca Empire and conquered Cusco.
    em1010186.jpg
  • Maras village, old colonial houses. Here lived many Incas nobles after the conquistadores defeated Inca Empire and conquered Cusco.
    em1010189.jpg
  • Maras village, old colonial houses. Here lived many Incas nobles after the conquistadores defeated Inca Empire and conquered Cusco.
    em1010190.jpg
  • Maras village, old colonial houses. Here lived many Incas nobles after the conquistadores defeated Inca Empire and conquered Cusco.
    em1010191.jpg
  • Sacred Valley. Colonial church near Maras, in the back the Sacred Valley with Nevado de la Veronica glacier (7550 m.).
    em1010192.jpg
  • Sacred Valley. Colonial church near Maras, in the back the Sacred Valley with Nevado de la Veronica glacier (7550 m.).
    em1010197.jpg
  • Sacred Valley, landscapes near Maras village.
    em1010822.jpg
  • Sacred Valley, young sheperds near Maras village.
    em1010827.jpg
  • Sacred Valley, landscapes near Maras village.
    em1010828.jpg
  • Sacred Valley, landscapes near Maras village.
    em1010867.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410266.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. The  flag of the Coyasuyo, the "Southern Province" of the Tayantisuyo, the old Inca's Empire symbolises the   indigenous identity and resistance to colonial and modernizing influences. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410267.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410270.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410273.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410274.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410280.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410281.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410284.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410293.jpg
  • Altipiano (puna) della provincia di Jujuy. Salinas Grandes, 212 km quadrati, sono considerate le terze saline più grandi del mondo dopo il Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia e il Salar de Arizaro di Salta. Festa dei salineros, suonatore di erke, (sorta di  lungo corno alpino andino). Le saline danno da vivere a 100-200 famiglie.
    em1410297.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410306.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. The Pachamama’s ceremony during which people sang songs and prayed in a low and high volume. Here the curandero waiting to  bless the donation in order to finally burn it.  After greeting one another, those present at the ceremony sat down on blankets and skins of leather and waited for the appropriate time in order to initiate the ceremony.
    em1410309.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. The Pachamama’s ceremony during which people sang songs and prayed in a low and high volume. Here the curandero waiting to bless the donation in order to finally burn it.  After greeting one another, those present at the ceremony sat down on blankets and skins of leather and waited for the appropriate time in order to initiate the ceremony. When the charcoal lit up, the curandero spread sacred plants and incense on it. Pachamama (Mother Earth) is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. In Inca mythology, a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410320.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. The Pachamama’s ceremony during which people sang songs and prayed in a low and high volume. The curandero would then bless the donation in order to finally burn it.  After greeting one another, those present at the ceremony sat down on blankets and skins of leather and waited for the appropriate time in order to initiate the ceremony. When the charcoal lit up, the curandero spread sacred plants and incense on it. Pachamama (Mother Earth) is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. In Inca mythology, a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410321.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. The Pachamama’s ceremony during which people sang songs and prayed in a low and high volume. The curandero would then bless the donation in order to finally burn it.  After greeting one another, those present at the ceremony sat down on blankets and skins of leather and waited for the appropriate time in order to initiate the ceremony. When the charcoal lit up, the curandero spread sacred plants and incense on it. Pachamama (Mother Earth) is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. In Inca mythology, a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410323.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. The Pachamama’s ceremony during which people sang songs and prayed in a low and high volume. The curandero would then bless the donation in order to finally burn it.  After greeting one another, those present at the ceremony sat down on blankets and skins of leather and waited for the appropriate time in order to initiate the ceremony. When the charcoal lit up, the curandero spread sacred plants and incense on it. Pachamama (Mother Earth) is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. In Inca mythology, a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410329.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Every year the salineros (salt mine workers) meet for the Salias Grandes Festival. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410334.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410340.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410341.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410347.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410351.jpg
  • Highlands (puna) of Jujuy north-west area. Salinas Grandes salt mines built into the flat, dry highlands of the Argentine northwest, where work 100-200 salineros (salt mine workers). Covering 212 square km are the third salt mines of the world, after Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) and Salar de Arizaro (Salta).
    em1410356.jpg
View: 100 | All
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

enrico martino

  • BOOKS
  • PORTFOLIO
  • REPORTAGES
  • MEDIA COVERAGE
  • TEARSHEETS
  • ABOUT
  • MULTIMEDIA
  • PRINTS
  • ARCHIVE
    • All Galleries
    • Search
    • Cart
    • Lightbox
    • Client Area
  • CONTACT
  • WORKSHOPS