Discovering Salinas de Janubio: The Canary Islands’ Salt Flats

Posted byDerbyshire GalPosted inCanary IslandsTags:,

The Salinas de Janubio are the largest salt flats in the Canary Islands.

A winding road curves through volcanic terrain with mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.
A winding road with a speed limit sign indicating 40 km/h, surrounded by arid mountains under a cloudy sky.
A winding road through a barren landscape with volcanic soil and a mountain in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

These salt pans are a popular tourist attraction known for their striking appearance—a mosaic of geometric, colourful pools set against dark volcanic landscapes.

Two bronze statues of salt workers depicted beside a wheelbarrow at a salt flat, with water pools and a clear blue sky in the background.
A panoramic view of salt flats with water-filled rectangular basins, surrounded by rocky terrain and the ocean in the background.
A bronze statue of a man holding a small object, standing beside a wheelbarrow filled with soil, with a shovel resting nearby. The setting features a body of water and a landscape in the background.
A bronze statue of a person in work attire, including a wide-brimmed hat and boots, holding a long-handled tool. The statue is standing on a stone platform near a body of water with a landscape in the background.

They have a rich history dating back to the 19th century.

In 1730, lava from volcano eruptions formed the walls of a natural lagoon and the waters are evaporated to produce the salt.

The waters of the lagoon were originally pumped in using wind power, but now electric pumps are used.

A panoramic view of salt flats with rectangular pools of water and drier land, set against a blue sky and ocean in the background.
Aerial view of salt flats with water pools and contrast between sandy and rocky areas under a blue sky.
A scenic view of salt flats with square plots, a calm body of water in the foreground, and rugged hills in the background under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of a coastal area featuring a calm turquoise lagoon surrounded by arid land and volcanic rock formations. There are rectangular salt flats in the foreground, with a small settlement visible in the distance on the hillside.
A panoramic view of salt mounds arranged in a geometric pattern on a salt flat, with dark earth and greenery in the background.
Aerial view of salt flats with triangular piles of salt surrounded by black stones.
Scenic view of salt flats with reflective water under a blue sky.
A panoramic view of salt flats with rectangular pools filled with water, surrounded by earthy soil, against a backdrop of a calm sea and blue sky.
A person standing on a rocky path with a water channel beside, under a clear blue sky.

Then we stop in a tiny town for the world’s most expensive coke, but at least I get to enjoy the clean lines of some traditional architecture.

A winding road leads through a volcanic landscape with a mountain in the background and clouds in the sky.
A white building with green windows surrounded by cacti and a dry, rocky landscape.
A landscape featuring white buildings with green windows in front of a rocky, brown hillside, surrounded by cactus plants and palm trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Published by Derbyshire Gal

World traveller, proud auntie, bit of a liability.

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Hand Luggage.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading