Sečovlje Saltworks

Sečovlje Saltworks

Sečovlje Saltworks

The Sečovlje Saltworks (Slovene: Sečoveljske soline) is the largest Slovenian salt evaporation pond. Along the Strunjan Saltworks, they are the northernmost Mediterranean saltworks and one of the rare where salt is still produced in a traditional way, as well as a wetland of international importance and a breeding place of waterbirds. They are part of the Piran Saltworks and are located in Slovenian Istria, the southwest of the country, at the Adriatic Sea, along the mouth of the Dragonja River near Sečovlje.^[1]

The saltworks have been active since 13th century. Nowadays, the salt production is carried on in order to preserve natural and cultural heritage. The area of the saltworks and the Seča peninsula have been declared the Sečovlje Salina Landscape Park. The Museum of Salt-Making in Sečovlje was in 2003 the first in Slovenia to receive the Europa Nostra Prize, bestowed by the European Union to outstanding initiatives for the preservation of cultural heritage.^[1]

In 1993, the saltworks were put on the list of Ramsar wetlands of international importance. The wetland stretches on 650 hectares (1,600 acres) in the mouth of the Dragonja.

Flora

Of particular importance are halophytes - the plants that require high salt concentrations for growing - among them Salicornia europea, Arthrochnemum fruticosum, Halimone portulacoides, Limonium angustifolium, Artemisia caerulescens, Suaeda maritima, and the Golden samphire (Inula crithmoides).

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  Limonium angustifolium

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  Ruppia maritima grows in closed channels with deeper and salt water.

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  Occasionally, the pioneer community of Salicornia europea covers a saltwork pool.

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  Sečovlje Saltworks are the only Slovenian growing place of Bellevalia romana

Fauna

Over 280 bird species have been spotted in the Sečovlje Saltworks, at least four of them having their only nesting place here. The saltworks are home to numerous invertebrates, like shrimps and shells, and vertebrates. Among insects, the bee species Tetraloniella nana and Pseudoapis bispinosa, and the bug Dimorphopterus blissoides have been found in the Sečovlje Saltworks. Among vertebrates, the Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula), and the Lesser Mouse-eared Bat (Myotis blythii) live here.

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  Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)

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  Little Egret is the most commons species of the egret and the symbol of the Sečovlje Saltworks.

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  A number of water animals, for example the brine shrimp Artemia salina, live in the Sečovlje Saltworks.

References

v t e Hydrography of Slovenia Rivers Bača Big Krka Bolska Čabranka Dragonja Drava Dravinja Dreta Fram Creek Gradaščica Hudinja Idrijca Iška Ledava Ložnica Kamnik Bistrica Kokra Krka Kolpa Krupa Lahinja Ljubljanica Meža Mirna Mislinja Mura Nadiža Nevljica Oplotniščica Paka Pesnica Pivka Polskava Pšata Radulja Reka Rinža Sava Sava Bohinjka Sava Dolinka Savinja Ščavnica Soča Sora Sotla Temenica Tržič Bistrica Vipava Voglajna Streams Big Božna Davščica Glinščica Kobilje Creek Nadiža Rak Waterfalls Javornik Falls Rinka Falls Lakes Black Lake in the Triglav Lakes Valley Lake Bled Lake Bohinj Lake Cerknica Lake Gradišče Lake Kreda Lake Palčje Lake Ptuj Lake Trboje Lake Žovnek Wild Lake Wetlands Ljubljana Marshes Sečovlje Saltworks Škocjan Caves Sea Adriatic Sea River valleys Logar Valley Radovna Valley Rakov Škocjan Trenta Valley Triglav Lakes Valley Tuhinj Valley Upper Sava Valley Vipava Valley Canyons and gorges Bled Gorge Hell Gorge Iška Gorge

v t e Municipality of Piran Settlements Administrative centre: Piran Dragonja Lucija Nova Vas Padna Parecag Portorož Seča Sečovlje Strunjan Sveti Peter Landmarks Franciscan Monastery Judicial Palace Kempinski Palace Portorož Loggia Lucija Parish Church Municipal Palace Piran Aquarium Piran Parish Church Piran town walls Portorož Airport Portorož Auditorium Portorož Parish Church Sečovlje Parish Church Sečovlje Salina Landscape Park Sečovlje Saltworks St. Peter's Church in Piran Strunjan Parish Church Tartini House Tartini Square People Peter Bossman Branko Lenart Giuseppe Tartini

Coordinates: 45°29′20.91″N 13°36′11.28″E / 45.4891417°N 13.6031333°E / 45.4891417; 13.6031333