Salinas da Fonte da Bica - Rio Maior, Portugal - Património Português (Portuguese Heritage) on Waymarking.com

The salt pans of Rio Maior, located 3 km from Rio Maior, and about 30km away from the sea, are one of the main references of the town, being the only of its kind still operating in Portugal.

The water of this spring is seven times saltier than seawater, and was extracted with the help of two huge "Picotas" or "Storks" till very recently. These engines are a legacy of the Arabic with certainty, because they were the ones who introduced it in the Europe. In fact, it is thought that the Romans, then Arabs, have exploited in large-scale these salt pans.

The salt water springs from the ancient well, and supplies the 400 ponds, occupying 21,865 m2.

These salt pans are considered an "Imóvel de Interesse Público / Public Interest Building" by the IGESPAR.

-- Source and more info (in Portuguese).

Designação (Name): Salinas da Fonte da Bica Categoria de protecção (Classification): Classificado como IIP - Imóvel de Interesse Público Categoria/Tipologia (Type of heritage): Arqueologia / Salina Concelho (City): Rio Maior Página do Património na base de dados da DGPC (Page of the Heritage at the DGPC database): [Web Link] Wikipedia: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log   09/03/2014 bmps2003 visited it