Typical wind pump, extracting precious water for farm irrigation. There are many wells all over the Island. Ibiza has very few springs and the ‘torrents’ ancient river beds are mostly dry.
Ibiza salt production is still considered one of the world’s finest being pure. The clay lined salt pans are situated below sea level and each May the sluice gates are opened to allow sea water to enter the pans, then shut. For the next three months the water slowly evaporates to leave a crust of shimmering white salt that is then dug out, loaded onto ships for export.
One of the chief customers of Ibiza salt to-day is the Faroe Islands where it is still used to salt fish. Ibiza exports around 50,000tons of salt per year.
Salt stockpile – photo taken late afternoon
Clay lined salt pans
Sluice channels
Old diesel engine probably used to drive loading belts carrying salt into the ship hold.
Not sure what the lever and pin mechanism is for?
No comments:
Post a Comment