BIOKO I

Torrevieja La Mata (Natural Park – Salt Lake Torrevieja)

The two salt lakes of Torrevieja and La Mata are part of a protected natural park.

The salt lake of La Malta has been declared an important area for bird life.

The history of the lakes goes back to the 13th century when the first licenses were given by the king for the harvest of salt. Now, they are still the biggest and oldest salt lakes in Europe, they are producing the salt for the cold winters on the roads of Northern Europe.

Salt water is drawn from the Cabec de la sal in Pinosos and left to dry in the sun until the water evaporates.The salt lakes are connected with the sea by two channels allowing the depth of the lakes to be altered for the salt production.

There is very little vegetation in the salt lake (too high level of salinity ) but they are at least 2000 different species of birds, like 1500 flamingo’s.