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The salt lakes of Torrevieja and La Mata are a calling card. The importance of the lagoons, which make up such a large part of Torrevieja's surface, is manifold. The most obvious is of course the source of income for the local economy. On average, about 600,000 tons of salt are extracted annually thanks to the salt exploitation. But while important, the financial benefits have of course been eclipsed for decades by what the tourist industry brings in every year.
For new residents and visitors to Torrevieja and the surrounding area, the other beautiful qualities that the lakes offer us especially count. And there are quite a few. Driving around in the area, it is difficult to ignore the wonderful color shades. The predominantly pink lake of Torrevieja salinas contrasts with the greenery of Lake La Mata. Moreover, both lakes give different color accents depending on the time of year, the time of day and the amount of sunshine. The striking color differences between the two lakes have to do with the height of the salinity.
The health aspects of the salt pans are another trump card. The salt in the water has a high iodine content.
Together with other minerals, this ensures healthy air in a wide area. This microclimate provides relief for people with a range of health problems such as heart and lung problems, asthma, rheumatic complaints and skin disorders. This resulted in the World Health Organization's assessment that the region is one of the healthiest in Europe.
Furthermore, the lakes are an important recreational area. Hikers and cyclists can follow different routes. Good signage, explanatory information boards and a series of birdwatching posts ensure that visitors can make the most of the rich flora and fauna. Bird watchers in particular will enjoy the many flamingos, terns, harriers, white shelducks and avocets that live in and around the waters. Since hunting is prohibited at the lakes, it gives the birds a lot of protection. In addition, there is a large amount of brine shrimp salina, a crustacean that thrives in saltwater, as a food source for the birds. Thus, the lakes remain popular for breeding and/or wintering.
Curiously, the lakes would have looked very different if Plan A had worked for the area. Centuries ago, a connecting channel to the sea was dug. The intention was to attract many fish to this artificial inland sea. That turned out to be a painful failure. The fish stayed away from the much too salty inland sea. Salt production was then accepted as Plan B.
In short, there are many reasons to cherish the two salt lakes.
