Salt pans are large shallow depressions in the earth's surface where salt is produced by natural or artificial means. There are many other names used to refer to these features around the world. In the United States, salt pans are frequently called salt flats or saltpans. In Australia, they are commonly referred to as salt lakes or salt pans. Other synonyms for salt pan include salt marsh, salt meadow, salt pond, salt lick, salt playa, and sabkha. Salt pans are important natural features that provide salt for a variety of uses, such as in cooking, agriculture, and industry. They also serve as habitats for many unique and diverse species of flora and fauna.