playa

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Temporary lake in a region of interior drainage (it has no outlet to the sea). Such lakes are common features in arid desert basins that are fed by intermittent streams. The streams bring dissolved salts to the playa, and when it shrinks during dry spells, the salts precipitate as evaporite deposits.

The Pillars of Hercules represent the promontories of Gibraltar and Ceuta. The shield represents the regions of Castile, Léon, Aragón, Navarre, and Granada. Effective date: 18 December 1981. >>