An astronaut aboard ISS took this photograph of solar evaporation ponds outside the city of Moab, Utah. There are 23 colorful ponds spread across 400 acres, part of a large operation to mine potassium chloride from ore buried underground -- an essential nutrient for plant growth. Each pond color indicates a different state of evaporation. The deep, royal blue color is from dye that is added to a full pond of potash brine and water in order to speed up the rate of heat absorption. The seafoam green colors indicate shallower waters that are well into the evaporation process. The tan colored ponds are nearly dry; salt crystals (the final product) are left over in the pond and ready for collection. Credit: NASA #nasa #moab #utah #fromspace