Las Salinas of Cabo Rojo

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Las Salinas (Salt flats) are located in Cabo Rojo, a municipality on the southwestern corner of Puerto Rico. To the north, las Salinas border Sierra Bermeja, the oldest geographical formation in the country; to the south and west with the Caribbean Sea; to the east with the municipality of Lajas.

For more than five centuries, neighboring populations have extracted salt from this ecosystem for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes. After five centuries, the vitality of the entire ecosystem depends on the human action of routinely removing some of the salt. Historical documents suggest that Las Salinas are the oldest functioning industry in all of Puerto Rico and one of the oldest in the Americas.

Las Salinas are part of 1,250 acres of land under the custody of the Cabo Rojo Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge. The area is co-managed by the Caborrojeño Pro Health and Environment Committee who have been defending the ecosystems of southwest Puerto Rico since 1990. They currently receive hundreds of visitors to the Centro de Las Salinas de Cabo Rojo.

Thanks to Pedro and Vanessa Valle for sharing their knowledge and for taking care of this ecological treasure.