Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Aveiro > Aveiro > Aveiro
The Aveiro Salt Pans stretch across a vast area of the Ria de Aveiro, integrated into a unique lagoon system. This aquatic environment forms a distinctive landscape, where the water mirrors of the salt tanks are observed, flanked by characteristic salt marshes. The salt pans emerge as production islands, shaped by human and natural interaction over centuries, offering a different perspective of the surroundings of Aveiro city, merging urbanism with nature. They are a visual testament to the intimate relationship between the city and its Ria.
Aveiro salt, once known as "white gold," has a millenary history, predating even the formation of the Ria as we know it today. Ancient documents, dating back to the 10th century, attest to the existence and importance of these salt pans. Over time, the salt-making activity adapted to the natural conditions of the bar and the Ria, remaining a relevant economic pillar in various periods, such as in the 16th century, when Aveiro stood out in salt export. Despite fluctuations and the decrease in the number of active salt pans, the traditional art of extracting salt from seawater remains alive, preserving an ancestral know-how that shaped this landscape.
Salt production in Aveiro's salt pans is the result of an ingenious interaction between man and natural elements. The marnoto, the central figure in this process, masters the knowledge of saltwater, sun, wind, and rain, as well as the properties of the clay mud. It is their empirical knowledge that allows for the creation of salt, transforming the raw material that nature offers. Observing the marnoto's work is to witness a profession that, although seemingly simple at first glance, encompasses deep wisdom and respect for nature's rhythm, essential for harvesting "fleur de sel" and sea salt.
Although created by human action, the salt pans represent a habitat of great ecological value, functioning as a true sanctuary of biodiversity. The differences in salinity and depth of the tanks, together with vegetation adapted to saline soils, create ideal conditions for the coexistence of a wide variety of organisms. For aquatic birds, the salt pans are particularly attractive, offering advantageous feeding and shelter conditions, as the water level remains relatively constant, regardless of the tides. This remarkable balance between economic activity and natural conservation makes the salt pans a privileged place for observing local avifauna and flora.
The landscape of the Aveiro Salt Pans is a spectacle in constant mutation, where sunlight and the seasons paint the water mirrors with a palette of colors. From deep blue to emerald green, passing through rosy tones, the colors vary according to salinity and the presence of microorganisms. The geometric shape of the evaporation and crystallization tanks creates a fascinating mosaic, a unique aesthetic that inspires and soothes. The way the sky reflects on the water's surface gives this place an almost poetic aura, evoking the image of "windows of the palace of heaven" that descended to earth, as envisioned by the poet Almada Negreiros.
The waters of the Aveiro Salt Pans have very particular characteristics due to their high saline concentration. These properties allow, for example, the human body to float with ease, similar to what happens in other high-salinity seas. Furthermore, the bottom of some of the tanks is coated with the natural mud of the salt pans, rich in minerals. These peculiarities give the waters a distinctive natural interest, complementing the scenic beauty and historical importance of the place.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.6448511,-8.6627442
Coordinates DMS: 40°38'41.5"N 08°39'45.9"W
Weather Aveiro
On-duty Pharmacy Aveiro
