(Answer) What are these colorful, shallow streams and ponds in San Francisco Bay used for?

[8-6-2022] Microsoft Rewards Bing Homepage Quiz Question: What are these colorful, shallow streams and ponds in San Francisco Bay used for?

The given options are:

• Marine transport
• Chemical waste disposal
• Salt harvesting

Correct Answer: Salt harvesting

Info: The San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds are an approximately 16,500-acre (6,700 ha) part of the San Francisco Bay. Most of the ponds were once wetlands in the cities of Redwood City, Newark, Hayward, and other parts of the bay. The salt flats of San Francisco Bay have long been developed as commercial salt ponds to harvest sea salt. Salt production goes back to when the Ohlone were the only people in the area. After the large influx of people to the area in the 1850s, industrial production began. Industrial salt mining grew dramatically in the area after the California gold rush (1848-1855) brought waves of settlers. At first, production was predominantly small family operations, but over time these were replaced by companies like the Oliver Salt Company in Mount Eden and Leslie Salt in Newark. Eventually, Cargill bought out the companies to become the dominant producer in the area. However, the low- and mid-salinity marshes provide vital feeding grounds for many of the shorebirds that live in the wetlands of San Francisco Bay. That’s why, in recent years, efforts have begun to restore the land to its original state. (Ref)

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All three questions from today’s Bing Homepage Quiz are below. You can find their answers by visiting those pages.

1. What are these colorful, shallow streams and ponds in San Francisco Bay used for?
2. What tiny creature contributes to the colors of the San Francisco Bay salt ponds here?
3. What is the Beaufort scale used for in San Francisco Bay?