Salinas de Santa Pola Natural Park, Protected salt evaporation ponds in Santa Pola, Spain.
The park in Santa Pola is a protected salt production area that covers around 2,500 hectares. The landscape includes shallow salt ponds, freshwater pools, sand dunes, beaches, and farmland that together form a mosaic of different habitats.
The area was transformed with salt facilities in the second half of the 1800s, replacing the original wetland landscape. This change created a new environment that became important for wildlife and plants beyond just salt production.
Salt production has shaped this place for generations and remains central to local identity. You can see how this work influences the landscape and what it means to the people who live here.
The park is accessible through marked trails with observation points where you can watch birds and other animals. There is also an information center that explains the nature and history of the place.
The park hosts thousands of flamingos that use the shallow saltwater ponds as their habitat. There are also special plant species here that can survive extremely high salt levels.
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