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Sea salt has long since played an important role in Canarian life. And the
quality of Fuerteventura's sea salt has earned a high reputation. The people of Fuerteventura discovered 90 years ago that the sea offered a free resource that they could reclaim - salt. There are even moves today for Fuerteventura sea salt to be given protected name status - like that of champagne or brie. Just outside Caleta de Fuste a new open
air museum is devoted to the history of sea salt production on a site
where
Sea salt from Fuerteventura plays a important part in many local dishes like goats cheese. Fuerteventura's sea salt history goes back a long way. The walk around museum is dominated by the skeleton of a huge whale on the shoreline. Las Salinas is one of the few surviving
old-style salt processing plants. Thanks to funding, the museum has now
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been restored and there is even a visitor centre and a shop where you can
buy sea salt made at the museum.
The reception area boasts a history
section on the search for salt – from China in 6000 BC to salted fish
found in Egyptian
In the past, salt has ranked as
important as the island’s other main export – aloe vera. You can wander outside and around the
various salt pits and processes involved in producing sea salt. And take
in the skeleton of the huge whale … Open from Tuesday – Friday 9.30am-5.30pm and Sunday from 9.30am-5.30pm. To get there, follow the main road south past the Atlantico Centre and take the first turning on the left. Alternatively you can walk it by simply following the beach along.
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it
was once produced. It is by the small, picturesque village of Salinas del
Carmen which has a safe sandy beach and an excellent restaurant.
tombs,
a world map with photos of salt works from all over the world and a touch
screen computer where you can search through the salt works of the island.