saltiest

Saltiest is the superlative form of salty, used to describe the greatest degree of saltiness in a substance, solution, or environment. In English, it is formed by adding -iest to the adjective salty.

Salinity is typically measured in practical salinity units (PSU) or parts per thousand (ppt). Seawater averages about 35 ppt (3.5%). Environments described as saltiest have much higher salinity, often due to evaporation, mineral-rich brines, or unusual chemical composition.

Examples include the Dead Sea, with salinity around the high 30s percent; Don Juan Pond in Antarctica, among the saltiest known bodies of water, with brine around the 40% range; and Lake Assal in Djibouti, another extremely saline lake typically measured in the 30–40% range. Such environments host specialized halophilic organisms and have distinctive chemical mixes dominated by chlorides of magnesium and calcium rather than sodium chloride.

In food and beverages, salinity is also used in a culinary sense. The saltiest foods are those with high sodium content, including cured meats, certain cheeses, pickled products, and heavily seasoned dishes. Excessive salt intake is linked to health risks.