Windmill
Town Salina (salt pond) and windmill at the Salt House, Grand Turk.
The major industry on Grand Turk from its founding to the mid-20th century was salt mining. Seawater was admitted to several salt ponds, called "salinas". Windmills pumped the saltwater from one level of the salina to another, evaporation increasing the salinity at each stage. Finally, the salt was recovered manually in salt pans. Grand Turk salt was in demand and exported everywhere. Even George Washington ordered it! The lucrative industry was known as "White Gold". There is a White Gold museum of the salt industry, but it was closed the day we were here. However, we did have a good overview of one of the dormant salinas that still exist on the island.
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