Sečovlje Saltworks

Sečovlje Saltworks

The Sečovlje Saltworks (Slovene: Sečoveljske soline) is the largest Slovenian salt evaporation pond. Along with the Strunjan Saltworks, they are the northernmost Mediterranean saltworks and one of the few where salt is still produced in a traditional way, as well as a wetland of international importance and a breeding place for waterbirds. They are part of the Piran Saltworks and are located at Parecag 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 the 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 received the Europa Nostra Prize, bestowed by the European Union to outstanding initiatives for the preservation of cultural heritage in 2003, the first Slovene organisation to be awarded.^[1] The salt produced at the saltworks is marketed as Piran Salt (Slovene: Piranska sol) and has Protected designation of origin status in the European Union.^[2]

In 1993, the saltworks were put on the list of Ramsar wetlands of international importance. The wetland covers 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, Halimione portulacoides, Limonium angustifolium, Artemisia caerulescens, Suaeda maritima, and the golden samphire (Inula crithmoides).

Limonium angustifolium
Ruppia maritima grows in closed channels with deeper and salt water.
Occasionally, the pioneer community of Salicornia europea covers a saltwork pool.
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.

Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)
Little egret is the most commons species of the egret and the symbol of the Sečovlje Saltworks.
A number of water animals, for example the brine shrimp Artemia salina, live in the Sečovlje Saltworks.

References

1 2 Pipan, Primož. "Sečoveljske soline" [Sečovlje Saltworks]. In Šmid Hribar, Mateja. Torkar, Gregor. Golež, Mateja. Podjed, Dan. Drago Kladnik, Drago. Erhartič, Bojan. Pavlin, Primož. Jerele, Ines. Enciklopedija naravne in kulturne dediščine na Slovenskem – DEDI (in Slovenian). Retrieved 4 May 2012.
↑ "“Piranska sol” registers as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)". SOLINE Pridelava soli d.o.o. Retrieved 28 August 2014.

External links

Media related to Sečovlje Salina at Wikimedia Commons

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 Rižana Sava Sava Bohinjka Sava Dolinka Savinja Ščavnica Soča Sora Sotla Temenica Tržič Bistrica Vipava Voglajna

Streams	Aslivka Besnica Big Božna Borovniščica Davščica Dobličica Glinščica Kobilje Creek Logaščica Nadiža Obrh Rak Reka Tunjščica

Waterfalls	Javornik Falls Peričnik 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	Log Koritnica Valley Logar Valley Radovna Valley Rak Škocjan Soča Valley Trenta Valley Triglav Lakes Valley Tuhinj Valley Upper Sava Valley Vipava Valley

Canyons and gorges	Bistrica Gorge Dovžan Gorge Hell Gorge Iška Gorge Ribnica Gorge Vintgar Gorge

Municipality of Piran

Settlements	Administrative centre: Piran Dragonja Lucija Nova Vas Padna Parecag Portorož Seča Sečovlje Strunjan Sveti Peter

Landmarks	Judicial Palace Kempinski Palace Portorož Loggia Lucija Parish Church Minorite Monastery Municipal Palace Piran Aquarium Piran Parish Church 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 Walls of Piran

People	Peter Bossman Branko Lenart Giuseppe Tartini

Salt

History	History of salt In the American Civil War International Salt Co. v. United States In Middlewich Old Salt Route In Chinese history Salt March Salt road

Types	List of edible salts Alaea Bittern Black lava Butter Celery Curing Cyclic Dairy Flake Fleur de sel Garlic Himalayan Iodised Kala Namak Kosher LoSalt Calcium chloride Pickling Potassium chloride Potassium nitrate Sodium nitrate Onion RealSalt Rock Sea salt Seasoned Sel gris Smoked Truffle

Food usage	Brine Cheese brining Salted foods Salt-cured meat Health effects Salt and cardiovascular disease

Commerce and industry	Salt Industry Commission Evaporation pond Production Salt mining Open-pan salt making List of countries by salt production

By region	In Cheshire In Ghana In Syracuse, New York

Culture	Salt in the Bible Salting the earth

Miscellaneous	Mineral lick Smelling salts

Category

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

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