Think of rain as nature’s gentle, but relentless, sandpaper. When rain falls, it’s not pure water—it’s a little bit acidic, thanks to carbon dioxide from the air.
This weak acid drips onto rocks on land. Over thousands of years, it gently dissolves minerals, including sodium and chloride—the two elements that make table salt.
Now, here’s the fun part: rivers and streams are like tiny delivery trucks. They carry those dissolved minerals—including the salt—straight into the ocean.
Does that mean the ocean is just a giant collection bucket? Yes, basically. But it gets even better.
Why Doesn’t The Ocean Get Too Salty?
You might be thinking: “Wait, if rivers have been dumping salt in for billions of years, shouldn’t the ocean be a solid block of salt by now?” Great question.
The ocean has a clever balancing act. Some salt gets used by sea creatures—like crabs and clams—to build their shells. Other salt sinks to the bottom and forms new rocks.
Plus, when seawater evaporates and turns into clouds, the salt is left behind. It’s like a salty filter that keeps the ocean perfectly seasoned, but never over-salted.
Why Does My Water Taste Salty? (Guide to Fixing)
