Uncovering the Mystery of Utah's Hidden Blue Pool

The Hidden Treasure of the U-Turn National Park

If you take a look at the U-Turn National Park from a satellite, you'll notice something unique in blue. When you zoom in a bit more, you get a stunning view right in the middle of the canyons. There are a total of 23 spots in blue, yellow, and green that really highlight the beauty of this place. But in this desolate area where all the mountains are brown, what’s with these gorgeous blue spots? Is it some secret NASA project, or is there a swimming pool?

The Discovery of Potash

I'm happy again, folks! To understand these beautiful blue pools films, we have to go back 1500 years when humans discovered a unique chemical element with the help of bonfires. Yes, the same bonfires we light in winter to keep warm. Today, we only need to use a few girls for this, but not for a performance—this is about saving the ash. We're going to put it in a pot and add some water because the ash contains a lot of chemical compounds that dissolve in water, changing its color. Now, let's check out this water.

We'll filter this and leave it in the sun to dry. Once the water evaporates, we'll be left with crystals like these. These are the chemical elements that humans have been using for centuries. Since it's made with the help of potash and ash, that's why it's called potash. In the past, people used potash to dye fabrics and it was also used in glass production. For example, when you melt animal fat and add potash, it turns into liquid soap. Similarly, adding potash in glass production helps create glass.

The melting point drops, making it super easy to give it a preferred shop. With the growing population of humans, the demand for potash skyrocketed, and by 1788, thousands of factories had popped up for potash production. In these factories, only girls were working, and they were just there to make some cash. Then in 1790, a well-known inventor named Samuel Hopkins came up with a new method for producing potash, where instead of drying it in the sun, they did it in a furnace. This new method significantly reduced the time needed for potash production.

The first patent in American history was signed by the first American president, George Washington. Because of this patent, potash saw a huge boost, and various scientists started different experiments with it. But among all these experiments, there was one that would change the world forever. Just a few years after the patent was signed, in 1807, a scientist named Sir Humphry Davy put potash in a boat and applied an electric current to it. He noticed that tiny metal balls were forming in the potash, and then suddenly, in the next moment...

The Birth of Potassium

After a big explosion, the goddess discovered a new element for the world. But what was this element called? Since it was extracted from potash, it was named potassium. A lot of people have heard the name potassium, and when they do, they think of apricots, raisins, or bananas. Sure, these fruits are good sources of potassium for humans, but they don’t contain pure potassium. Pure potassium is super reactive and will react with anything right away, just like in our previous experiments where potassium reacted with air.

Potassium reacts with water vapor, and that’s why we keep it submerged in oil to prevent it from reacting with the moisture in the air. The byproducts of this reaction are used to create so many things today that if we tried to list them all, this blog would be way too short! From batteries and fertilizers to glass and gunpowder, potassium has become essential in our world. Potassium nitrate, for example, is a key ingredient in gunpowder and fireworks. After the discovery of free dairy, a lot of products started being made from potash, which comes from potassium.

The Rise and Fall of German Potash

But the biggest issue was the manufacturing of potash itself, because for several years after the discovery by Devi, it was being produced by girls burning it. As demand skyrocketed, it got to the point where entire forests in Europe were being cut down, which became a major environmental threat. Then in 1861, Germany found a new source for potash production. This wasn't just any story; it was hidden in a particular type of rock, and Germany had plenty of this rock. This new discovery was a big win for Germany.

It turned out that producing potash this way not only made it cheaper, but also helped save trees. They had so much potash that they started tossing it around, which led to some clear benefits. When they spread potash on the ground, they noticed that crops grew much faster and required less water. This was a huge relief for farmers, who often struggled with water shortages. With potash, they could grow healthy crops even with less water. In just a few years, Germany became the number one exporter of potash by 1910.

Four years before World War I, the whole world had become dependent on Germany for potash. Germany decided to ban the export of potash, and this move hit the United States the hardest. It was during this time that Congress allocated funds to find domestic sources of potash in America. One location was near a place called Mob City on YouTube, and the twist was that the potash wasn't on the surface but buried 350 feet underground. Initially, they set up proper mines there and extracted potash from 3,500 feet below the surface. It was a tough job.

The Modern Potash Industry

Everything was going smoothly again, but then in 1963, an accident happened that changed everything. Methane gas leaked inside the potash mine, and after coming into contact with an open flame, it ignited. The potash mine exploded with a huge blast. Unfortunately, 18 miners lost their lives in that tragedy. The very next year, a Canadian mining company discovered a new way to extract potash from the ground. They drilled down 3,500 feet and injected pressurized water into a soft layer. The potash deposits mixed with the water, and then...

The water from the second pond used to flow into India, and this is the same pond that we see in different colors today. If you think the blue color comes from the potassium in it, you’re mistaken. They add copper sulfate to make the water blue so that bacteria don’t grow in the stagnant water. Plus, the blue color attracts more sunlight, which speeds up evaporation. The heat from the sun evaporates the water, leaving behind all the potassium at this spot on YouTube.

There are 23 ponds spread over an area of 400 acres. It takes about 6 to 8 months for each pond to evaporate. As the water level drops, the ponds change color from blue to green and then to yellow, eventually turning into white crystals of potash. These crystals are loaded onto trucks and shipped out. People have been using this process for centuries, and it has been a major source of income for them. According to estimates, there are about 2 billion tons of potash buried underground in the Mob City area, and each ton is worth $330.