This is a manual merge of three shots taken last Monday when Max and I visited these salt pans. There is a visitor’s centre which I preferred to stay away from because of Covid 19 though there was hardly anybody around.
About the Salini Salt Pans. The Knights of Saint John in the 16th century took salt production in Malta to a new, almost industrial, level when they developed an area of marshland at the ancient port of Burmarrad and constructed an artificial clay island to create the Salina Salt Pans – by far the islands’ largest and the only completely man-made ones. They cover an expanse of nearly 100,000 square metres. In its heyday, Salina was capable of producing some 4,000 tons of coarse salt every year when salt was as dear as gold. Time and cheap imported table salt eventually led to the decline of most salt production in the Maltese islands while Salina itself suffered from long years of neglect. Severe storm damage also resulted in the destruction of its retaining walls and led to the pans being completely submerged under water and silt for a number of years.
In 2011 a €7 million restoration and regeneration project saw the cleaning of the canals round the salt pans and the complete restoration of the timber huts originally built by the British – one of which now serves as a visitor centre..
Given the importance of the site for avian wildlife, the place has been entrusted to Birdlife Malta.
Thank you so much for all your views, for your comments and for your fav's. - always appreciated.
Fascinating history. I wonder if the salt pans could be used again. Looks as if they are. There is always a demand. Those St John's guys have played a great part in our past!
Great merge - more than just a pano!
- Interesting - can you get close to the Salini Salt Pans? They make for interesting abstract type photos - I photographed the one in the Dead Sea - https://www.peterdulisphotography.com/p216465032
Great shot and view on the city. Interresting tale of the history. Fav.
( In the beginning of living in this area it al started by getting salt. The peat was salt and by burning it they could get it out. It become a big bussinnes untill the land getting smaller and smaller )
Great merge - more than just a pano!
Ian
( In the beginning of living in this area it al started by getting salt. The peat was salt and by burning it they could get it out. It become a big bussinnes untill the land getting smaller and smaller )