Salinas of the English Port, Protected salt flats in Porto Inglês, Cape Verde
The Salinas of the English Port are salt production flats located on Maio Island's southwestern coast, made up of shallow saline pools and salt-caked surfaces. The landscape consists of multiple ponds in varying shades, creating patterns visible across the terrain.
Salt extraction at this location traces back to the colonial period when trade routes connected the islands. The site earned international protection status in 2013 when recognized as a Ramsar wetland.
The salt ponds are part of daily island life, supplying salt for local cheese making and meat preservation that remain important food production methods. These practices connect the landscape directly to how people here prepare and store their food.
Access is easiest during the dry season when paths are more passable and the salt pools are clearly visible. An on-site Interpretation Center offers guided tours explaining salt production and provides bird watching opportunities.
The salt ponds host one of Cape Verde's most important populations of a small shore bird species that migrates through the region. These flats serve as a critical stopover point during seasonal bird movements along Atlantic routes.
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