Salt

Cooking salt, or, as the chemists would say, sodium chloride, can not be called an ordinary substance. Her properties are amazing, and fate is very interesting. In ancient Rome caravans with salt slowly wandered along the main trade road - Via Solaria, which meant "salt way". Caravans were accompanied by a detachment of soldiers, so that salt, precious treasure, would not become the prey of robbers. In ancient times, salt was valued literally in gold.

Cooking salt, or, as the chemists would say, sodium chloride, can not be called an ordinary substance

For a person, salt is vital. If it is long for the body, a person can die. The lack of salt caused popular unrest - in the history of "salt riots" are known. Salt paid instead of coins. Because of the salt of the country, they fought each other. These days have passed: now salt is mined in sufficient quantity. And its reserves on the Earth are truly inexhaustible. Giant domed blocks, whole salt mountains, there are in the bowels of the earth, and on its surface. For example, the Khodja-Mumyn mountain in Tajikistan, entirely composed of rock salt, rises 900 meters above sea level. In the dissolved state the salt is contained in the water of the seas and oceans, in mineral lakes, salt streams. All this salt in solid form would occupy 20 million km3. This amount can cover the whole Earth with a layer, the thickness of which would exceed the 30-storey house! Salt is extracted by evaporation, as well as in salt mines, much like coal. In addition, in the salt mines, underground sanatoriums are arranged for patients with asthma - saline air for them is healing. And salt mines are an ideal place for storing a wide variety of substances and objects, there they do not spoil for a long time.

Therefore, in the USA, for example, in the salt mines of Hutchinson (Kansas), huge values are collected, like in the museum: ancient paintings and coins, important documents, microfilms, furs. With the help of salt canned meat, fish, vegetables. To this end, people have been using salt since prehistoric times: in a large concentration, the salt kills microorganisms. With the help of salt, you can perform a small miracle, for example, to cover a twig of a tree with a sparkling "hoarfrost". To do this, in a jar of water at room temperature, it is necessary to pour in the salts and stir so that the salt dissolves. Add salt and stir again. So it is necessary to do it until the salt ceases to dissolve, and a sediment will remain in the water. Chemists call this solution saturated. Now you need to pour the solution into a saucepan, put it on the fire. When the water warms up and all the salt dissolves, you need to add a pinch again: two glasses of water - about a batch of salt. In the hot salt solution, lower the twig and leave it there for a day. Well, then - admire! The branchlet will be covered with shiny salt crystals.

In Rus, salt has long been extracted from brines, which were pumped out of the bowels. The first mention of the extraction of salt refers to the year 1137, when Prince Svyatoslav Olegovich in Novgorod, with his letter, ordered to collect salt from each saltworks. The history of salt extraction in Rus is reflected not only in ancient manuscripts, but also in the names of ancient Russian cities: Solikamsk, Solvychegodsk, Usolye Sibirskoe. A lot of colorful colorful expressions, different beliefs are connected with salt. Spill the salt - unfortunately, go away with nothing - "leave no salt poured". And to get to know a person better, you have to eat a "pud of salt" with him! About the heroes, the best people said that they are "the salt of the Rus land!" Remember the ancient custom of meeting the dear guest with bread and salt. Bread represents strength and health, but salt is wealth!

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