Étang des Salines, Protected wetland near Sainte-Anne, Martinique

Étang des Salines is a protected wetland situated at Martinique's southern coast spanning approximately 207 hectares. It brings together mangrove forests, dry woodlands, and grasslands that extend toward the Atlantic shore.

The site was used for salt harvesting from colonial times until operations ended in 1965. Its designation as a protected area came later to preserve the landscape shaped by this former economic activity.

The name comes from its past use for salt gathering, and today visitors find wooden pathways and informational signs throughout the grounds. These routes guide people through different habitats and reveal the layered ecology of the mangrove environment.

The site lies at the end of the D9 road south of Sainte-Anne, where a marked trail leads from the parking area to the lagoon and the beach at Pointe des Salines. The ground is flat but exposed, so bring water and sun protection; mosquitoes are present near the mangrove.

Étang des Salines lies on a direct migration corridor along Martinique's southern tip, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea. The open water and mudflats give wading birds a resting and feeding ground before the crossing toward the Lesser Antilles chain.