Salt flats are large expanses of bright, white salt left behind after the evaporation of a lake or sea. These are arid regions, often found within a desert or badlands areas. The salt crust of the pan may conceal thick mud or contrastingly colored earth. Fictional salt flats are often used to explore themes of isolation, religious experience, and madness.

Salt flats are flat and arid expanses. As they were once lakes, they are often ringed by higher land in the form of hills, mountain ranges, or cliffs.

Fictional salt flats may be used as a type of alternative seascape, similar to dune seas. If used in this manner, hills in the flat may act as islands and fictional vehicles (windblown sleds for example) may cross the salt like ships on an ocean.