SANTA POLA SALT LAKES.

Hardly a "regular" tourist destination recommendation, far from it...

Simply to understand a little of of the major industry in this region of the Costa Blanca (which probably was .. third behind tourism & property) ... and to witness the only one of the Costa Blanca's nature reserves - where the wildlife can be seen ...
a trip to these lakes (almost unavoidable when visiting these parts ... as the N332 coastal road runs right through the lakes) ... is a must do thing.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION - "Micro Climate"

These lakes are (I think) partly the cause of the "claims" by some people - that this area of the Costa Blanca is one of the healthiest places in the world to live (maybe it was in Franco's era) ... they always say - "according to the World Health Organisation" ... blah blah ...
Exactly where the World Health Organisation state this fact ... is a mystery ... (I've looked & cannot find this on the Internet) ... apart from on website's trying to sell the place ...
These website's (usually selling property) all use the term "micro climate" .. one of them must have made it up & the rest followed along blindly.
I have heard people state that the area is well know to assist people suffering from arthritis - but I do know a friend suffering from arthritis who had to move inland because of the high humidity level here on the coast.
If the World Health Organisation do indeed state the fact ... that this region of the Costa Blanca around the Santa Pola Salt Lakes is one of the healthiest places on earth to live ... all well & good ... but I would want to see it in writing ... from the horses mouth ... so to speak ...

Salinas de Santa Pola - Santa Pola Salt Lakes - Nature Reserve.

The Santa Pola Salt Lakes (Salinas de Santa Pola) are one of about seven natural parks (natural reserves) within the Costa Blanca, and is (read our article about the lack of wildlife in the Costa Blanca) one of the very few places where you can actually get to see the wildlife (in this case birds) ... without spending a couple of days in a hide ... watching & waiting.
Getting photographs of the birds however, without a large zoom lens camera can prove difficult ... especially the flamingos. My camera does not take a bad photo (I hope you agree) but trying to get a photo of the Santa Pola flamingos with it, is proving neigh on impossible, despite several ideal opportunities. Of all the birds which haunt the Santa Pola Salt Lakes the flamingos are obviously the most exotic ... its rare to pass through the lakes when there are no flamingos ... sometimes they are far out ... and sometimes quite near ...

But ... sorry ... but no good flamingo photos .... yet.

Santa Pola Salt Lakes - The Museum.

There is a small museum detailing all aspects of the Santa Pola Lakes (Salinas de Santa Pola) the "Museo de la Sal" Information Centre ...
The Salt Museum is open from around 09.00 till 14.30 (and sometimes later in the afternoon) .. but closed on Monday ... its free to enter ... and has its very own salt lake at the rear of the building.



This map shows the location of the Santa Pola Salt Museum - in street view ... the map is interactive, and can be expanded full screen by clicking the square in the top right corner.

Note : To see the flamingoes or other birds.
There are two places to stop and park your car at the Santa Pola Salt Lakes, just off the N332 road, one is a lay by at the square turret pictured above ... the other a small piece of waste ground further down, in the direction of La Marina, but drive slowly ... if you blink you may miss them.
The lay by near the square tower at Santa Pola Salt Lakes.
Small area of waste ground on which to park your car.
Bird watching point at the edge of the Santa Pola Lakes.

The Santa Pola Salt Lakes "in passing" - may seem rather unremarkable ...
In the mighty scheme of things these Salt Lakes are definitely so much more.