Lanzarote is
an island able to surprise for its several interesting things offered to the
visitor. Among them, there are the famous
Janubio salt flats. Today in Canarian Transfer we will talk about this
curious place in Lanzarote.
Where are the Janubio Salt flats?
The Janubio Salt flats are in the southwest of Lanzarote,
between Playa Blanca and Yaiza (closer to the last one). They are
literally locatd at the feet of Timanfaya National Park.
Its surroundings have not been always like nowadays,
because aprox between 1730 and 1736, there were a serie of eruptions from Timanfaya that totally changed the
landscapes.
In particular, a large part of Lanzarote was coloured in
black and the gulf was enclosed with lava where nowadays the saltflats are located.
Before
the eruptions, this part of the island was used for coltivations.
An ancient
tradition
Salt is probably
the oldest food seasoning. Proof of this are the Roman and Cocederas amphorae
found near the sea. Probably they could be used to obtain the precious salt.
Salt has
been so important for the economy of the island, that in the year 1605 by the
Audience of Canary Islands has been asked for the Lanzarote Salt flats to be
incorporated to the Royal Treasury.
The salt flats
have been declared as Bioshere
reserve in the year 1993. One year later,
in 1994, they have been named as Site of scientific
interest.
They are aslo listed as a Special Bird Protection Zone,
due to the large number of birds that nest in the area.
How are the
Janubio Saltflats
We commented
several times about the contrasts that Lanzarote usually offers to the visitor.
It’s an island totally different according to ther rest of the archipelago.
When someone
arrives to the Janubio Salt flats it is a big surprise for the contrast with
the surroundings. The saline pools show whitish hues, while the surrounding
beaches and hills are black because of the lava they contain.
A curious
fact which makes them even more special,
is that each pool is delimited with dark stone and mortar. They also conserve
the old mills used to carry water to the enclosures.
On the other
side, each pool can have a different colour. Pinkish or red tones are related
to a crustacean called artemia or by the seaweed Dunaliella salina.
Even if part
of the process for obtaining the salt has been modernized, it is still quite
artesanal.
From these
salt flats it is possible to obtain the famous flor
de sal, composed by the scales of salt originated by the salt flats. A 100%
natural product that worth to try.
When to
visit the salt flats
Each season
of the year is ideal to visit the salt flats. But if it’s possible, we recommend
to be there about the sunset.
The sun hiding in the horizont, projects its reddish rays
on the waters of the salt flats, producing a spectacle for the senses.
As Canarian Transfer we offer a wonderful excursion that will allow to discover the south of Lanzarote. The Janubio Salt flats cannot
be missing.
Reserve
with us your trasfer from the airport to
your accomodation and make your visit in Lanzarote an unforgettable experience.