The Slovenian coast was scattered with saltpans as early as in the
beginning of the 20th century. The Koper saltpans, which were located
on the sediments of the Rizana river and the Badasevica stream, were
abandoned in the first half of the 20th century. The first records of
saltpans in Izola date from 1700 and offer little information. But it
is evident that these saltpans produced salt only for the consumption
of the local population. Most important were the saltpans in Piran, of
which only a small portion still survive in Strunjan and, for
Slovenia, the extensive saltpans of Secovlje. It is not known when the
Piran saltpans began to emerge, but the first written record is the
Piran statute which dates from the second half of the 13th
century. Much has been written about their historical development and
extremely rich cultural heritage which encompasses an architectural,
technical, technological, ethnological and linguistic heritage.
The growing of 'petola'
During the physical and technological development of the Slovenian
coastal saltpans, there have been several important turning
points. One of them came about in the 14th century, when in the
crystalisation basins of the salt fields, 'petola' or artificially
grown crust was introduced, which consists of green algae (Microcoleus
corium), gypsum, carbonate minerals and to a lesser extent,
clay. 'Petola' has two functions: it prevents the mixing of the salt
and the sea mud on the bottom of the crystalisation basin, and it
functions as a biological filter. From the 14th century onwards, salt
from the Piran saltpans was much sought after because of its purity
and white colour. The salt trade expanded and significantly influenced
the development of the coastal towns. In the Slovenian saltpans, salt
is still produced in a completely natural way by means of the 'petola'
crust. This way of salt making can be compared with the production
process in the Tagus saltpans of Portugal, where a similar
artificially grown carpet on the bottom of crystalisation basins
prevents salt from mixing with sediments.
Another important turning point came about after 1967, when the
southern part of the Secovlje saltpans or Fontanigga was
abandoned. With this, the old procedure of salt-making in individual
production units or salt fields (which demanded that in summer workers
lived at the saltpans) was finally abandoned.
Botanical significance of the saltpans
The botanical significance of the Slovenian coastal saltpans is
best illustrated by the fact that as many as 45 species from the
Slovenian Endangered Plant Species Red List grow in the area. Only a
few vertebrates can survive in the extreme ecological conditions of
the saltpans. Saltpans are a natural fish farm and they are well
known as an extraordinary ornithological location. They are a nesting
ground for numerous birds and the northern-most Mediterranean station
for migrating birds. Occasionally, more than 200 different bird
species live in the saltpans, while some ninety bird species regularly
nest there.
Saltpans - a landscape park
In 1989, because of the exceptionally varied natural and cultural
heritage, the Secovlje saltpans were declared a landscape park which
was divided into four smaller areas or natural reserves which are of
exceptional botanical or ornithological importance. Having gained its
independence in 1991, Slovenia ratified several international
conventions which it inherited from Yugoslavia. In 1993 the Secovlje
saltpans became the first Slovenian wetlands
to be put on the Ramsar list
because of their exceptional landscape and ecological value.
Salt-making museum
IMAGE:
Over the last ten years, at the Giassi channel of the abandoned
Fontanigga saltpans, a museum complex was created. The salt-making
museum encompasses two renovated salt-makers' houses, two adjacent
salt fields and the Giassi channel which is the main channel for the
influx of sea-water. One of the museum buildings houses a collection
of old salt-making techniques, while in the other, there is a salt
warehouse and a modern room and kitchen intended for the workers of
the two museum salt fields and occasional research and teaching
activities. The salt-making museum presents the old salt-making
procedure in individual production units, the beginnings of which date
to the Middle Ages. The museum complex will in future be intended
exclusively for visitors to the saltpans or the landscape park and
will be turned into a teaching museum complex with the aim of reducing
the visitor pressure on the rest of the saltpan ecosystem.
Saltpans - wetlands
Saltpans are one of the most threatened wetlands
in the Mediterranean. In this century, pollution has caused increasing
disappearance of this element of the Mediterranean cultural landscape,
the strategic significance and cultural heritage of which for
centuries has helped shape the Mediterranean civilisation. With it,
many forms of life of saltpan ecosystems have been disappearing. As
part of the policy of the protection of rich natural heritage, in 1993
the Republic of Slovenia joined the efforts for the preservation of
these ecosystems by placing the Secovlje saltpans on the Ramsar
list. The Secovlje saltpans are so far the only Slovenian wetlands on
the list and are famous for their exceptional ecological and landscape
value.
Boris Krizan, Inter-Municipal Institute for the Protection of
Natural and Cultural Heritage of Piran Zora Zagar, Sergej Masera
Maritime Museum of Piran