The salt flats have been for three thousand years one of the most characteristic elements of the landscape of the Bay of Cádiz. Also one of the main economic engines of the area, forming part of one of the local trades par excellence.
Contents
What is a Salt Flat or “Salina”?
We call a Salt Flat to the place where they properly extract the salt from the sea in an eco-friendly way. In order to process it so we can use it for human consumption.
In other words, a salt flat is a place where you seek to evaporate the salty water through sunlight. They call this practice “solar evaporation”. Once the water disappears, only the salt remains, they collect it and treat it so they can sell it.
The coastal salt flats
This type of salt flat is located near the seas, specifically the coasts or estuaries. They manipulate the water thanks to the fact that these areas are located at the same level of the sea or even below it. This allows the water to be directed to shallow natural reservoirs, where it can evaporate in the sun.
They can no only extract Salt from the historic salt flats of theBay, there are other gastronomic products. We must also mention the salt horn or “salicornia”. This salt horn or “salicornia” when dehydrated is an excellent option as a substitute for common table salt. Used more and more in bars and restaurants as an accompaniment to meat, in salads and even in scrambled eggs and tortillas. Salt horn can be used raw, cooked, or sautéed. As a starter, an accompaniment to other dishes or simply as a decoration. Although the latter is the least of it, because the salicornia surprises with its exquisite flavor.
The salt flat houses
The salt flat houses served as a home for the foreman and his family. Since the salt flats were isolated from the urban centers and required a continuous presence to manage the floodgates according to the tide. In addition, during the salt harvest season they had to house the necessary workers as well as shelter the mules, donkeys and work implements used to collect and transport the salt.
Ventorrillo de la Dolores is one of the most unique salt flat houses in the Bay of Cádiz. The construction itself is of the so-called courtyard houses. This courtyard works as a link between the main module and a rear one that was probably used as a stable and haystack.
The materials and construction techniques present clear parallels both with their homonyms in the Bay and with those built in the island’s urban area in the second half of the 19th century, a boom time for the salt industry. They are masonry walls based on oyster stone and mortar, as corresponds to those humble constructions that do not seek aesthetic brilliance but a functionality strictly related to the work of the marsh.
.
Most significant salt flats in the Bay of Cádiz
Chiclana de la frontera
Home to many species of birds, such as: avocets, storks, plovers, kingfishers and one of the largest populations of flamingos in the Bay of Cádiz.
-Salinas Santa María de Jesús, also known as Salinas de Chiclana:
San Fernando
Puerto Real
Managed by the University of Cádiz. We emphasize this particular salt flat because it is a must visit for bird lovers. 80% of the plover pairs in the natural park have chosen this space to lay their nests. At the end of the public path, there is a viewpoint from where you can also see little terns, spoonbills and the rest of the usual species in this natural park.
El Puerto de Santa María
–Salina de Nuestra Señora de Los Desamparados
Today transformed into an aquaculture farm.
One of the most important industrial salt flats in the province and the the largest salt flat in the Bay of Cádiz Natural Park, it has a very rich history and a very important community of aquatic birds. Although the visit to La Tapa is usually done by vehicle and on foot, it can also be done entirely on foot or by bicycle as a circular route of low difficulty, like all those of the Bahía de Cádiz natural park. Unlike the salt flats that we have mentioned so far, this one will draw your attention to the reddish color of its water pools. The sunsets and sunrise from here are breathtaking. The color has to do with the presence of microalgae and bacteria with red pigments. Small shrimp (“rabúos”) feed on these, which incorporate the pigment into their body. And guess what bird eats these shrimp and turns pink? That’s right, the flamingos! In fact, there are a large number of flamingos in this natural environment. As well as other birds typical of these ecosystems: avocets, terns, plovers, yellow-legged gulls, egrets, spoonbills have their home here. Other species like ospreys and lapwing come here to feed.
In Conclusion
Surely by now you understand why Felipe Campuzano was inspired when composing ‘Las Salinas‘. “It is what remains of the sea when the sea is dedicated to not having exact limits, but ineffable flavor”. Is what the brilliant man from Cádiz said when introducing this piece into his interpretations.
You can take a trip to the Salinas de Cádiz at any time of the year, since they are all interesting from a landscape, natural, cultural and gastronomic point of view. However, we suggest November. Since it is the estuary fish season month and you will be able to taste this product. If you want to know more about the estuary fish, do not forget to get in touch with us here or write us at info@alsherry.com and we’d be delighted to arrange / make plans with you or for you!