The Torrevieja salt flats
Between 600,000 and 800,000 tonnes of salt a year, one of the largest salt works in Europe.
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How it works: two lagoons, two roles
Torrevieja’s salt system uses the reserve’s two lagoons for different jobs. The La Mata lagoon concentrates: seawater flows in by gravity, since the lagoon sits below sea level, and starts evaporating. The Torrevieja lagoon crystallises: the already-concentrated water is transferred over, reaching 350 g of salt per litre.
Harvesting
A machine called a volvedora breaks up the crystals and collects them. The salt travels by conveyor to the plant, is washed, and piled into garberas — the white mounds visible from the road.
Flor de sal
In the old chemical ponds, flor de sal (salt flower) is harvested in the hottest months, when the day-night temperature contrast forms a thin layer on the water’s surface. It’s collected by hand.
Frequently asked questions
How much salt do they produce?
Why is the water pink?
Can you swim there?
Where can I buy Torrevieja salt?
Apartment 3 km from the pink salt flats and 1.5 km from the Nature Reserve.
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