The Simekian Salt Flat

Salt Crust

The salt flats themselves are a vast, featureless expanse with a thin layer of salt that has hardened and cracked under the relentless sun, creating intricate geometric patterns. The most striking of these are the large, hexagonal shapes, which seem to stretch infinitely across the land. The salt crust is several inches thick in most areas, but the surface is brittle and fragile, cracking underfoot if pressure is applied. When dry, the flat surface can stretch for hundreds of miles without significant elevation changes, giving the region a sense of boundlessness.

Weather Effects

When it rains, a thin layer of water can accumulate over the salt flats, turning the surface into a giant, reflective mirror. This creates a disorienting optical illusion, where the horizon seems to vanish into the sky, blending clouds and earth into an endless vista. The water is often shallow, with only a few inches of depth, and can reflect even the smallest details, making it a surreal and haunting landscape.

When it's dry, the salt flats are more navigable, though the stark white terrain offers little shade or shelter. Small cracks, fissures, and salt deposits are scattered across the surface, which can make travel across the area challenging without proper preparation.

Islands

The Simekian Salt Flats contain several islands. These islands serve as the only points of elevation in the otherwise flat terrain and provide a striking contrast to the vast salt pan around them.

Cactus Island is the largest and most famous of these islands. It is a lush oasis in the middle of the salt flats, covered in towering, ancient cacti that have adapted to the harsh environment. The island is a popular destination for explorers, offering panoramic views of the surrounding salt desert and serving as a major landmark in the region. Its topography includes steep hills and craggy terrain, rising sharply from the salt flats to offer a higher vantage point over the plains below.

Eternal Daylight

The Great Desert is bathed in constant, unyielding sunlight. The sun shines brightly overhead, creating a harsh, unrelenting brightness that fills the landscape. There is no night or twilight, leading to an unchanging, blistering heat that can be overwhelming for unprepared travelers.

Consistent Temperatures

The temperatures remain uniformly hot throughout the day, typically ranging from scorching to stifling, with minimal variation. Travelers must contend with the heat at all hours, requiring ample hydration and protection from the sun.

Gentle Winds

The winds in this ecoregion are gentle and soothing. They create a soft, whispering sound as they drift across the sand, occasionally stirring the sand but rarely enough to reshape the landscape dramatically. These breezes provide a slight respite from the heat.

Flora

Cacti

• Saguaro Cactus: The towering Saguaro Cactus is an iconic sight on the islands, particularly on Cactus Island. These massive, columnar cacti can reach up to 40 feet tall, their arms reaching outwards like the twisted fingers of a giant. With thick, waxy skin, they store vast quantities of water, enabling them to survive the intense heat and dryness of the salt flats. Their white blooms appear after rainfalls, a rare burst of color against the otherwise barren landscape.
• Barrel Cactus: The Barrel Cactus is a stout, round cactus that grows in clusters on the islands and low-lying areas of the salt flats. Known for its deep green, ribbed body, it is crowned with clusters of yellow or red flowers after rainfalls. The cactus stores water in its cylindrical body, which can swell significantly during rain. Despite its tough, spiky exterior, it provides vital hydration to the animals that roam the flats, as its fleshy interior is filled with liquid.
• Prickly Pear Cactus: The Prickly Pear Cactus has broad, flat pads covered in sharp spines, giving it a distinctive, almost alien appearance. It grows in clusters, spreading across the landscape in an effort to maximize surface area for water collection. Its fruit, called prickly pears, are edible, though covered in small, irritating spines. These cacti are often found in sheltered pockets of the islands or near the occasional water source, their bright magenta flowers offering a vivid contrast to the dry, white surroundings.
• Senita Cactus: The Senita Cactus is a tall, branching cactus native to the salt flats, with tall, slender stems that grow in dense thickets. Its white to pale pink flowers bloom only after rainfall, opening in response to the temporary cooler air, releasing a fragrant aroma. The Senita's distinctive pattern of vertical ridges and its ability to grow in the most arid environments makes it a survivor in the harsh conditions of the flats.
• Scarlet Cholla Flower: The Scarlet Cholla Flower is a striking plant with bright red, tubular flowers that bloom in clusters atop spiny, segmented stems. The plant’s vibrant blossoms provide a splash of color amidst the drab whites and grays of the salt flats, and its spines are coated in a fine, iridescent dust that glints in the sunlight. The cholla’s tough, spiny stems are its defense mechanism against herbivores, though the flowers are still an important food source for Sand Deer. Its fruit, known for its tartness, is a favored food for local wildlife.

Desert Flowers

• Dune Evening Primrose: The Dune Evening Primrose is a delicate, low-growing plant that thrives in the occasional pockets of soft sand scattered among the salt flats. Its white or pale yellow flowers open on full moons, releasing a sweet fragrance that fills the air. The plant has fleshy, succulent leaves that help conserve water, and its roots reach deep into the ground to find moisture. Its blooms are a fleeting, beautiful sight in the otherwise stark and unforgiving landscape.
• Desert Lily: The Desert Lily is a bulbous perennial that sprouts tall, slender stalks with large, trumpet-shaped white flowers. These lilies are typically found near the few permanent oases or around the islands, where they bloom after rainfalls. The flowers are a striking contrast to the dry, salt-encrusted earth. The plant is adapted to the heat, storing water in its bulb, allowing it to survive long periods of drought.

Fauna

• Sand Deer: The Sand Deer is a unique species of deer that has adapted to the extreme conditions of the Simekian Salt Flats. Smaller and more agile than typical deer, the Sand Deer is characterized by its large ears, which help dissipate excess body heat. Its hooves are specially insulated, providing both traction on the salty terrain and protection from the blistering heat beneath the surface. The Sand Deer feeds primarily on cacti and other desert plants, using its tough mouth and specialized tongue to strip the thorns off prickly vegetation.
• Fiji Banded Iguana: The Fiji Banded Iguana is a resilient reptile that thrives in the harsh environment of the salt flats, particularly on the islands. Its vivid green and blue scales, patterned with black bands, help it blend into the sparse vegetation of the region. These iguanas are primarily herbivores, feeding on cacti, grasses, and the occasional flowering plant. Despite the relentless heat, they are adept at regulating their body temperature by seeking shelter in the shade of larger plants like the Saguaro cactus. The Fiji Banded Iguana is known for its slow, deliberate movements and territorial behavior.

Food Chains

Cactus, Flowers and Cactus Fruits → Sand Deer and Fiji Banded Iguana