Valle y salinas del Salado, Protected valley and salt flats in Guadalajara, Spain
Valle y Salinas del Salado is a protected area covering about 11,600 hectares of varied terrain in Guadalajara where two major mountain systems meet. The landscape includes valleys, plateaus, and salt flats spanning elevations between 880 and 1,160 meters.
Salt has been extracted here since ancient times from mineral-rich waters that naturally rise from underground. This long tradition shaped the region for thousands of years.
Salt harvesting in this valley has long connected people to the land through practices passed down across generations. The work remains tied to the natural plant communities adapted to salty soils.
The area is accessible through several municipalities such as Sigüenza, Riba de Santiuste, and Alcolea de las Peñas, with multiple entry points for visitors. The terrain is rolling and requires sturdy footwear for walking through the valleys.
The Riba de Santiuste area contains the only Buntsandstein sandstone outcrop in the province, completely covered by holm and Pyrenean oak forests. This rare geological formation and its forest cover make this spot special.
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