TheSečovlje Saltworks (Slovene:Sečoveljske soline;Italian:Saline di Sicciole) is the largestSloveniansalt evaporation pond. Along with theStrunjan Saltworks, they are the northernmostMediterranean saltworks and one of the few where salt is still produced in a traditional way, as well as awetland of international importance and a breeding place for waterbirds. They are part of thePiran Saltworks and are located atParecag inSlovenian Istria, the southwest of the country, at theAdriatic Sea, along the mouth of theDragonja River nearSečovlje.^[2]

The saltworks have been active since the 13th century. Nowadays, the salt production is carried on in order to preserve natural and cultural heritage. The area of the saltworks and theSeča peninsula have been declared theSečovlje Salina Landscape Park. TheMuseum of Salt-Making in Sečovlje received theEuropa Nostra Prize, bestowed by theEuropean Union to outstanding initiatives for the preservation of cultural heritage in 2003, the first Slovene organisation to be awarded.^[2] The salt produced at the saltworks is marketed as Piran Salt (Slovene:Piranska sol) and hasProtected designation of origin status in theEuropean Union.^[3]

In 1993, the saltworks were put on thelist of Ramsar wetlands of international importance. The wetland covers 650 hectares (1,600 acres) in the mouth of the Dragonja.

Of particular importance arehalophytes - the plants that require high salt concentrations for growing - among themSalicornia europea,Arthrochnemum fruticosum,Halimione portulacoides,Limonium angustifolium,Artemisia caerulescens,Suaeda maritima, and thegolden samphire (Inula crithmoides).

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  Limonium angustifolium
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  Ruppia maritima grows in closed channels with deeper and salt water.
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  Occasionally, the pioneer community ofSalicornia europea covers a saltwork pool.
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  Sečovlje Saltworks are the only Slovenian growing place ofBellevalia romana

Over 280 bird species have been spotted in the Sečovlje Saltworks, at least four of them having their only nesting place here. The saltworks are home to numerous invertebrates, like shrimps and shells, and vertebrates. Among insects, the bee speciesTetraloniella nana andPseudoapis bispinosa, and the bugDimorphopterus blissoides have been found in the Sečovlje Saltworks. Among vertebrates, theEtruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), theItalian wall lizard (Podarcis sicula), and thelesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii) live here.

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  Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)
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  Thelittle egret is the most common species of the egret and the symbol of the Sečovlje Saltworks.
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  A number of water animals, for example the brine shrimpArtemia salina, live in the Sečovlje Saltworks.

• Media related toSečovlje Salina at Wikimedia Commons

45°29′20.91″N13°36′11.28″E / 45.4891417°N 13.6031333°E /45.4891417; 13.6031333

• Municipality of Piran
• Sečovlje Saltworks Natural Park
• Istria
• Agriculture in Slovenia
• Wetlands in the Slovene Littoral
• Saltworks
• Natura 2000 in Slovenia
• Ramsar sites in Slovenia
• Bodies of water of the Slovene Littoral

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