Water inlet of Las Salinas

The Puerto de Mazarrón harbours an old salting tradition that became a huge industrial exploitation in the XX century.

Way back then, the system consisted of small ownerships, plus the geological and topographic characteristics of the area, that make us think that the exploitation belongs to the Roman era.

Marine salt is obtained by salt falling after the evaporation of sea water. To achieve that, water is evaporated in small-depth ponds, separated with stone or sand walls.

The annual workflow was divided into several season works. The pond was reconstructed and ready for spring season, that is, summer crop. In autumn, the pond was open to empty the water, but dams and walls were damaged and repaired by spring time.

The water inlet is one of the few remains left regarding this economic activity in Puerto de Mazarrón. The water inlet through the channel is attached to a pumping machine system with a particular sound, known as ‘PIM-PAM’.