Abstract: A single effect solar distillation apparatus of the tilted or inclined floor type is disclosed which absorbs solar energy to evaporate a liquid distilland more efficiently. The present distillation apparatus is especially useful for desalination of sea water and includes a number of structural improvements to utilize the absorbed solar energy in a basically more efficient manner than previous still designs of this type. The distilland is evaporated in the present solar distillation apparatus substantially without turbulence especially at the evaporating surfaces to avoid certain heat transfer losses previously encountered during distillation. This basically novel mode of solar distillation is achieved with a particular relationship between the evaporating and the condensing surfaces in the apparatus which further cooperate with an improved structure where said evaporation takes place.