Samouco Salt Pans

Category: Nature > Reserva natural

District: Setúbal > Alcochete > Alcochete > Salinas do Samouco

Location

The Salinas do Samouco are located in the town of Alcochete, situated in an area that opens onto the vastness of the Tagus Estuary. This privileged position offers a unique perspective on one of Portugal's most significant wetlands, where the aquatic landscape stretches under the sky, creating a scene of great natural beauty and tranquility.

The surrounding area, particularly the Salinas do Samouco urbanization, integrates this complex into an environment that harmonizes human presence with the preservation of a vital ecosystem. The proximity to the riverbank contributes to its ecological and scenic importance.

A Sanctuary for Birds

With an area of 360 hectares, the Salinas do Samouco are a vital point for birdlife. This space serves as a feeding, refuge, and nesting site for thousands of water birds, and is considered the salt pan with the greatest richness and abundance of species in the entire Tagus Estuary, especially during high tide.

Throughout the year, a remarkable diversity of birds can be observed, including the Greater Flamingo, the Black-winged Stilt, and the Kentish Plover. The careful management of water levels in the different ponds, through a system of sluice gates, ensures a variety of depths and salinities, attracting hundreds of birds and providing ideal conditions for their survival and reproduction.

The Legacy of Salt

The Salinas do Samouco keep alive a centuries-old tradition of sea salt production. Despite the economic weakening that the traditional sector has suffered, salt production activity persists here, recalling the time when salt was considered "white gold" and a source of livelihood for many families in Alcochete.

In this place, salt is harvested artisanally, as it has been for centuries. Of particular note is the Fleur de Sel, which forms on the surface of the crystallizers and is collected manually, possessing characteristics that enrich its flavor. The Sea Salt, also traditionally produced in centuries-old salt pans, reflects the authenticity and history of a process that shaped the local landscape and culture.

A Preserved Heritage

The ecological importance of the Salinas do Samouco has been increasingly recognized and valued. This complex is a remarkable example of how a productive structure, despite its lesser economic relevance today, can be repurposed and maintained for nature conservation purposes, particularly for natural heritage.

The preservation of its physical structure, which allows the circulation of saltwater from the estuary, is fundamental to the ecosystem. This conservation effort is visible and gives the salt pans a symbolic value, transforming them into a "sacred place" that, against all odds, has remained intact and flourishing over time, contributing significantly to the region's biodiversity.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt