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The Union Salinera de España S.A. is the owner of the salt marshes of La Tapa and Marivélez, located in the municipality of El Puerto de Santa María, in the Province of Cadiz.

These salt marshes are situated in an area called ‘Coto de la Isleta’ at the mouth of the Guadalete River.

The salt marshes are part of the wetlands system of the Bay of Cadiz which, because of its inter-tidal situation and impermeable soil, has given rise to the natural development of maritime salt works. Despite being situated on the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the latitude provides climatic characteristics which are favourable to the production of salt from sea water. Although the autumn and winter periods are moderately rainy, rainfall is low in spring and, above all, summer. Evaporation is also very high because of the dry easterly winds that are predominant in the area.

 History

The production of salt in the Bay of Cadiz apparently dates back to the era preceding the arrival of the Phoenicians. It has been discovered that these first inhabitants worshipped a god called Salambobe (‘Good Salt’).

El Puerto de Santa María was founded after the Trojan War by the Greek ruler Menestheus who named it the ‘Port of Menestheo’.

Subsequently, the port was occupied by the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Visigoths. During the year 711, following the Battle of Guadalete, it passed into the hands of the Moors who called it Amaria Alcanter (the ‘Port of the Salt Marshes’).

Finally, in 1260, it was conquered by the Christian king Alphonse X ("the Wise”) who gave the town the name of Santa María del Puerto.

At the end of the 15th century one of the galleons of the Christopher Colombus expedition was named after the town. During the 16th century El Puerto de Santa María became a world centre in the salt trade and exchanges with America flourished. However, by the middle of the 20th century, the maritime salt marshes of Cadiz had started to decline, due to the introduction of new conservation techniques (deep freezing) and competition from another, cheaper type of salt.

Currently, the only salt marshes of importance in the Bay of Cadiz are those owned by Union Salinera de España S.A in El Puerto de Santa María. Over time, these salt works have managed to combine ancient traditions of production with more modern techniques to offer a distinctive product, highly sought after by the most demanding customers.

The activity developed by the salt works of La Tapa and Marivélez, in El Puerto de Santa María, contributes to the conservation of the flora and bird life, and the area has been declared Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention and a European Union SPA (Special Protection Area) for birds.

 The Process

The production process for the maritime salt works is based on the introduction of sea water into large but shallow ponds. Through solar and wind evaporation, the concentration of sodium chloride is obtained and, once the degree of saturation is reached, the salt starts to crystallise. It is later harvested using mechanical equipment.

		The impermeable soil of the salt marshes of La Tapa and Marivélez, created by fluvial intake from the mouth of the Guadalete River, forms an ideal, natural environment for salt production. The flood tides which periodically occur in the San Pedro estuary provide the second necessary element, along with the climate, for the production of high quality natural salt. The saturated brine is obtained by dividing the salt marsh into compartments: estuaries, evaporating ponds and crystallising ponds. Sea water circulates through these compartments and its concentration is obtained progressively.
Salt Harvesting

Crystallisation generally starts at the end of spring, or the beginning of summer, reaching its apogee in the summer months. At the start of autumn, the salt must be harvested to prevent it being dissolved by the autumn rains and to avoid loss of production. Once harvested, the salt is kept in piles until it is naturally dewatered. It is then washed, purified and ground to give it the granulometric characteristics corresponding to its use. Finally it is shipped in bulk or in packs, depending on the customer requirements.