Gomso Salt Field (곰소염전)
그것은 일정한 바닷물의 비중이다. 요 사이 내륙근처에는 각종 공장의 오폐수로 인해 바닷물이 오염되었지만 이 곳 곰소만은 공장이 없는 관계로 바닷물로 또한, 바다에 각종 유익한 물질 함유한 바닷물로 비중 24도에서 생산하는 이 소금은 마그네슘 함량이 거의 들어 있지 않고 간수 함유률이 적어 김치 절임 등을 할 때 그 맛을 쉽게 느낄 수 있다. 지금은 곰소염전의 적자운영으로 절반은 양어장으로 개조하였고 나머지로 근근히 명맥을 유지하고 있는데 혹시 폐쇄되지 않을까 염려가 되기도 한다. 소금하면 짠맛만을 가지고 있는 것으로 생각하기 쉬우나, 정말 소금맛을 아시는 분은 그렇게 표현하지 않는다. 곰소의 소금(남선염업주식회사)백곰표 소금이, 계속 생산되어, 정말 역사적 소금이 되었으면 하는 마음 간절하다.
Located in Gomso-ri, Jinseo-myeon in Buan-gun County, the Gomso Salt Field is one of the few salterns in Korea that produces Cheonilyeom solar salt. It is unique because, unlike other salterns, Gomso is not located by the ocean, but is situated along Gomsoman Bay, adjacent to the sea.
GROUNDWATER FROM THE MARSHES AND THE SEA IS STORED IN A RESERVOIR. THIS IS THE UNIQUE FEATURE - I.E. THAT IT IS NO TIDAL INNUNDATION AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT.
SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS
A. Seawater is stored in a reservoir.
B. The first step is filling the evaporating pond by supplying seawater through the waterways connected with the reservoir
C. After evaporating for a period of time, the more concentrated brine is sent to a second evaporating pond.
D. The evaporated saltier water is sent to the crystaling yard.
E. When it rains, the salty water is kept in the storehouses
F. The salt is put into ton bags, and hung in these bags in the warehouses for 6 months to 'ripen' the salt.
The bay shoreline is largely artificial and in parts suffering from erosion. The hinterland is largely rural, with rice agriculture, fish-farms, saltpans and an increasing area of more heavily-modified landscape (golf-course, parkland etc).
During the Joseon Dynasty, salt fields covered the area from Julpoman Bay to Gomsoman Bay, producing salt that was sent along with rice to Noryangjin from Geonmopo (Gujin). Aside from its long history, the salt of Gomso is also known for containing 10 times more minerals than any other salt.
The coast from Chaeseokgang Cliffs to Gochang, which includes Gomso Salt Field, features one of the world’s most well-developed wetlands. Particular environmental conditions are necessary to make good Solar Salt, It is an abundance of sunshine, wind and a clean environment. The area has been selected as a UNESCO Biosphere Conservation Area.
The seawater also has a higher salinity than that of East Sea of Korea.
When the weather is hot in the summer, work is done mostly in the early morning, with some luck, you may see people at work at the saltern.
서해안에는 소금을 생산하는 염전이 예로부터 많이 있었다. 그러나 지금은 간척사업과 여러 가지 산업 발달에 따라서 많이 줄어들었다. 서해안의 염전 중에서 가장 우수하기로 유명한 염전 중에 하나가 부안의 곰소염전이다. 전북 부안의 곰소염전은 변산반도 아래에 사방이 산으로 둘러 쌓인 곳에 위치해서 특히 각종 미네랄성분이 풍부하다고 한다. 그래서 우리나라에서 소금 맛이 제일 좋다고 손꼽는다. 특히 곰소염전 소금의 특징은 항상 새 간수만 사용하기 때문에 염화마그네슘의 함량이 적어 소금의 쓴맛이 없고 그렇다고 짜기만 하지도 않은 특징이 있다.
곰소염전은 일제시대 천일염을 수탈할 목적으로 만들어졌지만 지금은 가까운 곰소항과 함께 각종 젓갈과 수산가공품을 개발하고 고품질의 천일염 생산에 노력하고 있다. 1970년대만 해도 130명의 인원이 생산에 참여하는 큰 규모였지만 이제는 점점 줄어 몇 사람이 전국 생산량의 0.9%를 생산하고 있다고 한다.
곰소염전의 천일염 생산 시기는 3월에서 10월말까지 생산된다. 겨울엔 15일 정도 걸리고, 여름엔 매일 소금을 채취할 수 있다. 여름에 생산하는 소금은 결정이 크고, 봄, 가을에 생산하는 소금은 결정이 조금 작고, 단단하다. 특히 곰소염전에서는 간수의 농도가 30도가 넘기 전에 버리기 때문에 다른 지역의 소금과 달리 쓴맛이 나지 않는다.
This "Sea salt" is produced from the evaporation of brine. It is mostly used in cooking, (depending on the amount of processing). It is also called 'bay salt' or 'SOLAR SALT'.
It is generally more expensive than the more popular refined salt (table salt), some cooks believe it tastes better than salt from mines. However, apparently there is little or no health benefit to using solar salt over table salt, as both are primarily sodium chloride (NaCl), but is said that the flavour varies considerably. This store sells seventy varieties.
Commercial solar salt is produced here by natural evaporation of brine here in large, diked, earthen/ wood concentration ponds called condensers. Brine averages about 3.5% NaCl when it enters these condensers.
THE CHEMISTRY
Climate is very important in solar salt production. The sun and wind provide the energy to evaporate the water and raise the salt concentration to the point of crystallization, (25.8% NaCl)
As the water concentrates, unwanted components such as calcium carbonate is the first chemical to crystallize.
By moving the increasingly-saline brine through a series of ponds, sometimes over a period that can be as long as two years, the calcium carbonate is thus removed from the final salt product. When the concentration has increased
The water evaporates in successive ponds until the brine is fully concentrated and salt crystallizes on the floor of the crystallizing ponds.
Through the action of the sun and wind. As the salt water or brine solution concentrates, it reaches a point where the dissolved salts start precipitating out of solution.
The salt crystallises out of solution based upon their solubility. Solar salt field operators manage the brine to ensure that a high proportion of the sodium chloride salt is deposited in crystalliser pans.
Solar salt plants, salterns, must be located in areas of low rainfall and high evaporation rates, and where suitable low-cost energy, (sun and wind), is available.
The quantity of salt that can be produced varies based upon the input water concentration, area of ponds, evaporation and rainfall.
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QUESTIONS
Think of some of the conditions where this salt pan was established.
- Answer TRUE or FALSE to the best of your ability
- There is gently shelving coast, protected from exposure to the open sea TRUE or FALSE
- There is inexpensive and easily worked fuel supply TRUE or FALSE
- The area has a high rainfall TRUE or FALSE
2) Describe the size and shape of crystals near where you stand. (You DO NOT NEED permission to look in the warehouse or in the carts)
3) What colour and size are the laminated paper tiles on the bottom of many salt pans? Why this colour do you think?
4) There is another local trade which utilizes the product. Please suggest the nature of this ?
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