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Book Review of Salt: A World History

Salt: A World History
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2701 more book reviews


Did you know salt makes the world go round? Wars have been fought over it. It might even be said salt is the foundation of civilization. I learned so much from this book.

Just as an example:

The book constantly hit me with amazing facts. For example, what images arise when you think of Detroit? Okay, so it's not automotive plants anymore. But from now on I'll think of salt. Why? Well, Cargill operates a salt mine 1,200 feet below Detroit. It covers more than 1,400 underground acres and has 50 miles of roads.

But this somewhat pales in comparison with the salt mine under Avery Island in Louisiana. I've been there. It's the home of the McIIHenny and Avery Tabasco factory. The day I went, I had congestion from a cold. I walked into the Tabasco production area and my head cleared instantly! I kid you not. They should package that air and sell it as an over-the-counter cold relief. The island sits on a salt dome thought to be 40,000 feet deep. Cargill also mines that salt dome. The mine is dug in rooms 60 x 100 feet with 28 foot ceilings. The mine is currently 1,600 feet deep.

Most of the salt in the above mines is used to de-ice America's roads.