15 salt flats in Spain to visit

The salinas They have been part of the landscape of our country since Roman times and even before. In ancient times, salt was the only food preservative and, therefore, it had a great value. To give you an idea of ​​it, we will tell you that the term "salary" It comes from salt and refers to when people were paid for work with this product.

Today it has lost its importance for conservation, but the salt flats continue to exist. And, as before, they continue to form landscapes as beautiful as original which, in addition, usually have a great ecological value. Therefore, below, we are going to show you fifteen of them so that you can visit them. But first we must explain what a salt mine is.

What is a salt mine?

The salt flats are places where evaporation of salt water is allowed so that only salt remains. Then it is dried and collected. More specifically, this water is concentrated in shallow ponds so that, through the action of the sun and wind, it disappears, leaving only the salt, which crystallizes.

We can distinguish two types of salt flats. The most commons are the coastal ones, which take advantage of sea water and are usually found in marshes, but there are also indoor. In this case, these are salt lakes or groundwater springs that pass through salt deposits.

Fifteen salt flats in Spain that will fascinate you

Once we have explained what a salt mine is, we are going to focus on fifteen of these facilities that you will find fascinating because the wonderful natural environment in which they are found. Typically, these are wetlands of great environmental importance that serve as refuge for migratory birds, some in danger of extinction. But, in addition, they are witnesses of history, since, as we told you, there are some that are thousands of years old.

Torrevieja Salt Flats

It is inside the La Mata and Torrevieja Lagoons Natural Park, a natural space of almost four thousand hectares of surface and of enormous beauty. The most important salt flat is known as pink lagoon because, due to the concentration of minerals, the water remains that color.

Likewise, the area is the habitat of species such as the stilt, the shelduck, the Montagu's harrier and the curlew. Although access is restricted, you can guided tours.

Fuencaliente

We now travel to canary island of La Palma to tell you about these other salt flats that have settled on the ancient lavas of the Teneguía volcano. Are declared Site of scientific interest y Biosphere Reserve (the latter extends to the entire island). Likewise, they are a stopover for numerous migratory birds and make up an impressive landscape.

The Salt Flats of Ibiza and Formentera

Although these are two different salt flats, we talk about them together because they are united in the same natural park, La de Ibiza It has an area of ​​almost three thousand hectares and is located in the municipality of San Jose. For its part, that of Formentera It is made up of thirteen thousand, who are in the Es Freus Strait, which separates both islands.

Due to its great ecological value, the park has been declared as Heritage and also how Special Protection Area for Birds. Among the latter, the presence of flamingos, so common in wetlands, stands out.

Janubius

We now move to the island of Lanzarote to tell you about the Janubio salt flats, which already fascinated the local artist César Manrique. They are located in the municipality of Yaiza and stand out for the red color of its waters. This is due to a small crustacean called Artemia already a seaweed called Dunaliella saline. Likewise, for their activity, they take advantage of the lava barrier that volcanic eruptions formed between the sea and the land, giving rise to lagoons.

Santa Pola

We now travel to the Peninsula to tell you about these other salt flats that are in the province of Alicante I&II. Their ecological value is so great that they were included in the list of Ramsar wetlands for being areas of vital importance for poultry fauna. Above all, the presence of flamingos and stilts stands out and they are also classified as a natural park.

The Trinity

You will find them in the Tarragona municipality of San Carlos de la Rapita, within another natural park, in this case that of the Ebro Delta. These are several lagoons such as Canal Viejo, Las Ollas or Alfacada, which, in many cases, have different degrees of salinity.

But, above all, they will leave you amazed by the ensemble in which they are immersed. It is a natural space of mobile dunes, riverside forest and places like the buddha island, Trabucador isthmus or the Punta de la Banya reserve.

Gold Salt Flats

As we have told you before, there are also indoor salt flats. This is the case of the ones we present to you now. The Golden Salt Flats are in Navarre, specifically in the merindad of Estella, and they are the only ones with natural springs in the entire Iberian Peninsula. It has been exploited since Roman times and its extraction method is also unique. If you take the guided tour, they will show you.

Isla Cristina Salt Flats

Again we move to a natural park, that of the Isla Cristina Marshes to tell you about this other salt flat. In fact, it is an ecosystem so valuable and fragile that salt extraction is carried out by hand, as in Latin times.

If you visit them, be sure to see the Ecomuseum of the park or doing any of the signposted routes that travel through the marshes. Among them, the greenway created in the space left by the old Huelva-Ayamonte railway stands out. It will allow you to discover the rich fauna and flora of the place.

San pedro del pinatar

Once again included in a natural park, that of the Salinas and Arenales of San Pedro del Pinatar, extend for six kilometers on the Mediterranean coast. It is a protected area of ​​the province of Murcia which is located north of Mar Menor.

In addition to the salt flats, which are still exploited, this wonderful environment offers you beautiful beaches with dunes, pine forests, reed beds and reed beds. If you come to see these salt flats, stop by Visitors Center and then walk one of the enabled trails to get to know all its ecosystems.

Es Trenc Salt Flats

We go back to Balearic islands to tell you about these salt flats located in the Mallorca and also known as Salobrar de Campos. Once again, they are located in a natural park, which means you can see lagoons and mountains of salt next to one of the most beautiful sands on the entire island in perfect harmony.

If you visit this salt flat, you can enjoy that beach, but also see migratory birds and, above all, see wonderful landscapes. Among them, those that the Mediterranean offers you, with the Gavina or Na Llarga islands and, above all, the furthest Cabrera in the distance

Cabo de Gata Salt Flats

We return to peninsular territory to stay in the province of Almería and tell you about the salt flats of Cabo de Gata. Are the only ones that are still used industrially in Andalusia, but this is not at odds with respect for the environment. In fact, they are home to many species of both animals and plants. Among the former, it has about eighty birds, among which the pink flamingo, the avocet and the seagull stand out.

On the other hand, these salt flats take advantage of the old lagoon and are separated from the Mediterranean Sea by imposing dunes up to four hundred meters high. The wetland in which they are found has also been declared Ramsar space of international importance by Unesco.

Iptuci

We did not leave Andalusia, although we changed the province of Almería for that of Cadiz to tell you about this other salt marsh located in the municipality of King's Meadow. In this case, it is an archaeological site, that of Vegetable Head, which is from Roman times and has different constructions.

The set is declared Well of cultural interest. However, the salt mines are even older, since they have their origin in Phoenician times and it is estimated that they date back to some three thousand years.

Belinchón Salt Flats

Also the province of Cuenca It has indoor salt flats. In addition, they produce a salt of magnificent quality and purity. They are located in the municipality of Belinchón, where you can also see interesting monuments. Among them, the Church of Saint Michael the Archangel, which responds to the late Gothic style; the palace-house of Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, from the 18th century, and the Salazar palace.

Salinas de Anana

Also inland is this other salt marsh that you can see in the province of alava. In reality, it is an entire valley that receives its waters from the mountains and has numerous ponds. In this case, salt is produced by a geological phenomenon called diapir.

Broadly speaking, it consists of the rise of deep materials from the ground to the surface due to their lower density. It is believed that they are the salt mines in exploitation oldest in the world because, according to excavations carried out in the area, they are about seven thousand years old.

The Bufadero

We finish our tour of the salt flats of Spain by telling you about those of The Bufadero, which are close to The wicket, in the Gran Canaria municipality of Arucas. They have the particularity and owe their name to the fact that they are located on a cliff from which jets of water and foam emerge from the sea (a phenomenon that in the area is called "snort").

In conclusion, we have shown you fifteen salt mines of Spain that you should know both for its beauty and its ecological value. Dare to discover them.