Solar salterns – salt-making areas and natural habitats

Authors

  • Primož Pipan Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, Novi trg 2, SI – 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2707-618X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/GV97202

Keywords:

geography, cultural heritage, heritagization, traditional salt-making, fleur de sel, petola microbial mat, Piran salterns, Slovenia, //, geografija, kulturna dediščina, dediščinjenje, tradicionalno solinarstvo, solni cvet, petola, Piranske soline, Slovenija

Abstract

In recent decades, solar salterns in Europe have become protected natural areas. Long-term human activity has created a typical saltern ecosystem, providing habitats for numerous plant and animal species. We describe traditional salt-making using the example of the Sečovlje salterns in Slovenia, focusing on salt crystallisation areas during the 2024 salt season. The role of the petola microbial mat as both salt-making heritage and a natural feature is illustrated by examples from Croatia (Pag, Nin, Ston), Italy (Cervia), and France (Aigues-Mortes, Guérande). We examined the heritagisation of solar salt-making using the examples of the salterns in Aigues-Mortes (France) and Sečovlje (Slovenia). Saltworkers and salt production as an economic activity play a key role in preserving the saltscape.

Morske soline – prostor solinarstva in naravni habitat

Območja morskih solin postajajo v Evropi v zadnjih desetletjih zavarovana območja narave. Zaradi dolgotrajnega delovanja človeka je nastal tipičen solinski ekosistem, ki je območje habitatov številnih rastlinskih in živalskih vrst. Tradicionalno morsko solinarstvo smo orisali na primeru Sečoveljskih solin v Sloveniji, s poudarkom na območjih kristalizacije soli v solni sezoni 2024. Vlogo petole kot solinarske dediščine in narave orišejo primeri iz Hrvaške (Pag, Nin, Ston), Italije (Cervia) in Francije (Aigues-Mortes, Guérande). Dediščinjenje morskega solinarstva pa smo preučili na primeru solin v Aigues-Mortes (Francija) in Sečoveljskih solin (Slovenija). Pri ohranjanju solinarske pokrajine imajo ključno vlogo solinarji ter solinarstvo kot gospodarska dejavnost.

References

Banjac, M. 2020: Uvod v kvalitativne metode zbiranja podatkov: opazovanje, intervju in fokusna skupina. Ljubljana.

Beltram, G. 2003: Mokrišča. Vodno bogastvo Slovenije. Ljubljana.

Bonin, F. 2001: Proizvodnja soli v piranskih solinah od 16. do druge polovice 18. stoletja. Annales, Series historia et sociologia 11-1.

Bonin, F. 2016: Belo zlato krilatega leva: razvoj severnojadranskih solin v obdobju Beneške republike. Piran.

Boudet, G. 1995: La renaissance des salins dum idi de la France au XIXe siècle. Marseille.

da Silva, M. F., Albuquerque, H., Martins F., Buron, G. 2022: Salt pans: An indissociable natural and cultural heritage – a comparative study between Aveiro, Portugal and Guérande, France. Tourism Planning and Development in Western Europe. Wallingford. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800620797.0005

Ernoul, L., Vera, P., Gusmaroli, G., Muccitelli, S., Pozzi, C., Magaudda, S., Polajnar Horvat, K., Smrekar, A., Satta, A., Monti, F. 2022: Use of voluntary environmental contracts for wetland governance in the European Mediterranean region. Marine and Freshwater Research 73, 9-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/MF21109

Etnografska dokumentacija 2024: Terenski zapiski. Primož Pipan.

Etnografska dokumentacija 2025: Terenski zapiski. Primož Pipan.

Evropska konvencija o krajini 2004. Internet: http://www.krajinskapolitika.si/krajinska-politika/evropska-konvencija-o-krajini/ (10. 9. 2025).

Glavaš, N., Rogan Šmuc, N., Dolenec, M., Kovač, N. 2015: The seasonal heavy metal signature and variations in the microbial mat (petola) of the Sečovlje Salina (northern Adriatic). Journal of Soils and Sediments 15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1273-5

Glavaš, N., Mourelle, L. M., Gómez, C. P., Legido, J. L., Rogan Šmuc, N., Dolenec, M., Kovač, N. 2017: The mineralogical, geochemical, and thermophysical characterization of healing saline mud for use in pelotherapy. Applied Clay Science 135. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2016.09.013

Glavaš, N., Defrage, C., Gautret, P., Joulian, C., Penhoud, P., Motelica, M., Kovač, N. 2018: The structure and role of the »petola« microbial mat in sea salt production of the Sečovlje (Slovenia). Science of the Total Environment 644. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.009

Gruppo Culturale Civiltà Salinara – Cervia: La Salina di Cervia - Edizione in occasione del 300˚ della costruzione di »Cervia Nuova« 1697–1997. Cervia, 1997.

Harrison, R. 2015: Beyond »natural« and »cultural« heritage: Toward an ontological politics of heritage in the age of Anthropocene. Heritage and Society 8-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/2159032X15Z.00000000036

Holz, E. 2001: Sol kot državni monopol: Od cesarice Marije Terezije do marčne revolucije leta 1848. Annales, Series historia et sociologia 11-1.

Hueso, K., Peranidou, T. 2011: Cultural aspects of Mediterranean salinas. Culture and Wetlands in the Mediterranean: An Evolving Story. Athens.

Hueso Kortekaas, K. 2019: Salt in our veins. The Patrimonialization Processes of Artisanal Salt and Saltscapes in Europe and Their Contribution to Local Development. Kaiserslautern.

Hueso-Kortekaas, K., Iranzo-García, E. 2022: Salinas and »saltscape« as a geological heritage with a strong potential for tourism and geoeducation. Geosciences 12-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12030141

Hueso Kortekaas, K. 2023: Analysis of the regulatory framework and governance of salinas in the Mediterranean region: The cases of Tunisia, Italy, Lebanon, and Spain. Sustainable Management Model for Mediterranean Artisanal Salinas (MedArtSal). IUCN project technical report. Malaga.

Hueso-Kortekaas, K., Carrasco-Vayá, J.-F. 2024: The patrimonialization of traditional salinas in Europe, a successful transformation from a productive to a services-based activity. Land 13-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060772

Internet 1: https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soline (20. 12. 2024).

Juteršek, M., Dolinar, M. 2021: Chironomid larvae destroy cultivated microbial mat in protected Adriatic salterns. Aquatic Conservation 31-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.3661

Kataoka, R. 2022: Detection of glutamic acid in Piran Salts as a source of umami taste. Salt and Seawater Science and Technology 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11457/ssst.2.0_3

Kladnik, D., Lovrenčak, F., Orožen Adamič, M. (ur.) 2005: Geografski terminološki slovar. Ljubljana. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/978-961-254-470-6

Koludrović, A., Franić, M. 1954: Sol i morske solane. Zagreb.

Kovač, N., Glavaš, N., Dolenc, M., Rogan Šmuc, N., Šlejkovec, Z. 2013: Chemical composition of natural sea salt from the Sečovlje salina (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic). Acta Chimica Slovenica 60-3.

Križan, B. 1990: Preobrazba Sečoveljskih solin ter varstvo naravne in kulturne dediščine. Primorje: 15. zborovanja slovenskih geografov. Portorož.

Kurlansky, M. 2003: Salt. A World History. London.

Mihelič, D. 1996: O začetkih piranskega solarstva. Annales, Series historia et sociologia 6-8.

Makarovič, M. 1976: Neposredno opazovanje z udeležbo kot ena od metod etnološkega raziskovanja na terenu. Glasnik Slovenskega etnološkega društva 16-3.

Muccitelli, S., Pozzi, C., D’Ascanio, R., Magaudda, S. 2023: Environmental contract: A collaborative tool to improve the multilevel governance of European MPAs. Sustainability 15-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108174

Odlok o razglasitvi Krajinskega parka Sečoveljske soline 1990. Uradne objave občin: Občina Piran 5/1990. Primorske novice, 26. 1. 1990.

Odlok o razglasitvi Muzeja solinarstva za kulturni spomenik državnega pomena. Uradni list Republike Slovenije 29/2001. Ljubljana.

Ogorelec, B., Mišič, M., Šercelj, A., Cimerman, F., Faganeli, J., Stegnar, P. 1981: Sediment of the salt marsh of Sečovlje. Geologija 24-2.

Olwig, K. R. 1996: Recovering the substantive nature of landscape. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 86-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8306.1996.tb01770.x

Online etymological dictionary 2025: Salary. Internet: https://www.etymonline.com/word/salary (5. 11. 2025).

Orožen Adamič, M. 1998: Solinarstvo. Slovenija – pokrajine in ljudje. Ljubljana.

Parc naturel régional de Camargue. Internet: http://www.parc-camargue.fr/ (20. 12. 2024).

Peričić, Š. 2001: Proizvodnja i prodaja paške soli u prošlosti. Radovi Zavoda za povijesne znanosti HAZU u Zadru 43.

Pipan, P., Topole, M. 2023: Heritagization between nature and culture: Managing the Sečovlje salt pans in Slovenia. Landscape as Heritage: International Critical Perspectives. London, New York. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003195238-23

Pipan, P. 2024a: Veronika Bjelica, Matjaž Kljun: 30 let Muzeja solinarstva (dokumentarni film). Geografski vestnik 96-1.

Pipan, P. 2024b: Dediščina solinarstva. Glasnik Slovenskega etnološkega društva 64-1.

Piplović, S. 2003: Prilog poznavanju dalmatinskih solana u XIX. stoljeću. Radovi Zavoda za povijesne znanosti HAZU u Zadru 45.

Polajnar, K. 2008: Public awareness of wetlands and their conservation. Acta geographica Slovenica 48-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS48105

Polajnar Horvat, K., Gašperič, P., Leban, K., Tičar, J., Smrekar, J. 2022: Participatory approach to wetland governance: The case of the memorandum of understanding of the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park. Sustainability 14-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169920

Ramsar 2024. Internet: https://www.ramsar.org/ (25. 12. 2024).

Ravnik, M. 1992: Od zamisli do pričetka obnovitvenih del. Muzej solinarstva. Katalogi Pomorskega muzeja »Sergej Mašera« 7. Piran.

Resolucija o pomenu Krajinskega parka Sečoveljske soline. Uradne objave občin: Občina Piran 12/1993. Primorske novice, 22. 6. 1993.

Robertson, M. M. 2000: No net loss: Wetland restoration and the incomplete capitalization of nature. Antipode 32-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8330.00146

Rogelja Caf, N. 2022: Walking with the Rižana River: Ethnographic experiments in the Anthropocene. Anthropological Notebooks 28-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7463496

Rogelja Caf, N. 2024: Casting a sideways glance: Walking-writing experiments with the river. Walking as Embodied Research: Drift, Pause, Indirection. London, New York. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003189992

Rogelja Caf, N., Ledinek Lozej, Š. 2021: Hodim, pišem, raziskujem: refleksija hoje in pisanja v etnološkem in antropološkem raziskovanju. Etnolog 31.

Rogelja Caf, N., Ledinek Lozej, Š., Gregorič Bon, N. 2023: Hodopisi: Zbirka etnografskih esejev z metodološkimi premisleki o hoji in pisanju. Prostor, kraj, čas 21. Ljubljana. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/9789610507086

Savnik, R. 1951: Solarstvo Šavrinskega primorja. Geografski vestnik 23.

Savnik, R. 1965: Problemi Piranskih solin. Geografski zbornik 9.

Schiavuzzi, B. 1878: Elenco degli Uccelli viventi nell’Istria ed in ispecialità nell’agro piranese. Bolletino della Società Adriatica di Scienze naturali in Trieste 4-1.

Schneider, J. 1979: Stromatolitische Milieus in Salinen der Nord-Adria (Sečovlje, Portorož, Jugoslawien). Cyanobakterien-Bakterien oder Algen? Oldenburger Symposium über Cyanobakterien 1977. Oldenburg.

Shepherd, N., Ernsten, C. 2024. Walking as embodied research. Walking as Embodied Research: Drift, Pause, Indirection. London, New York. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003189992

Shepherd, N., Ernsten, C., Visser, D. 2018: The Walking Seminar: Embodied Research in Emergent Anthropocene Landscapes. Amsterdam.

Smrekar, A., Gašperič, P., Tičar, J., Polajnar Horvat, K. 2023: Aktivno vključevanje deležnikov v upravljanje zavarovanih območij: primer mokrišča Krajinski park Sečoveljske soline. Geografski vestnik 95-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/GV95103

Solinarka. Internet: https://www.kpss.si/narava/zivali/v-vodi/solinarka (24. 11. 2025).

Soline 2024: Krajinski park Sečoveljske soline. Internet: https://www.kpss.si/o-parku/soline-in-solinarstvo/soline (24. 12. 2024).

Solinski rakec. Internet: https://www.kpss.si/narava/zivali/v-vodi/solinski-rakec (24. 11. 2025).

Spek, T., Brinkkemper, O., Speleers, B. P. 2006: Archaeological heritage management and nature conservation: Recent developments and future prospects, illustrated by three Dutch case studies. Berichten van de Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek 46.

SSKJ2 2024: Slovar slovenskega knjižnega jezika 2. Internet: https://www.fran.si/133/sskj2-slovarslovenskega-knjiznega-jezika-2/4532705/solina?View=1&Query=solina (24. 12. 2024).

Škornik, I. 2008: Spoznajmo soline. Portorož.

Tehnični podatki o letališču. Portorož, 2025. Internet: https://www.portoroz-airport.si/si/za-pilote/tehnicni-podatki-o-letaliscu (5. 11. 2025).

Tkavc, E., Gostinčar, C., Turk, M., Visscher, P. T., Oren, A., Gunde-Cimerman, N. 2011: Bacterial communities in the ‘petola’ microbial mat from the Sečovlje salterns (Slovenia). FEMS Microbiology Ecology 75-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00985.x

Topole, M., Pipan, P. 2022: Prilaščanje pokrajine Sečoveljskih solin: naravna in kulturna dediščina. Geografski vestnik 94-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/GV94106

Uredba o krajinskem parku Sečoveljske soline. Uradni list Republike Slovenije 29/2001. Ljubljana.

Verhoeven, J. T. A. 2014: Wetlands in Europe: Perspectives for restoration of a lost paradise. Ecological Engineering 66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.03.006

Vrtačnik, K. 2005: Tourism cycle(s) of Portorož – Portorose. Annales, Series historia et sociologia 15-1.

Zhu, X., Jiang, M., Yuan, Y., Verhoeven, J. T. A. 2019: Case studies of ecological restoration and conservation strategies for marshes and peatlands. Wetlands: Ecosystem Services, Restoration and Wise Use. Ecological Studies 238. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14861-4_9

Žagar, Z. 1996: Delovno orodje in pripomočki v solinah – odraz stoletnih izkušenj in iznajdljivosti. Traditiones 25.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-31

How to Cite

Pipan, P. (2025). Solar salterns – salt-making areas and natural habitats. Geografski Vestnik, 97(2), 29–60. https://doi.org/10.3986/GV97202

Issue

Vol. 97 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Articles/članki

License

All moral rights are retained by the author for copyright work submitted for publication in Geografskivestnik. The author transfers all material rights to reproduction and distribution in Slovenia and in other countries to the publisher free of charge, without time limit, for all cases, for unlimited numbers of copies, and for all analog and digital media without exception. If the article is not in line with the instructions for publication, the author shall permit the publisher to adapt the article accordingly. The publisher shall ensure that, given sufficient funds for printing, all positively reviewed articles shall be published in Geografski vestnik, generally in the sequence in which they are received and in line with the balanced distribution of articles by section. Commissioned articles may be published at any time regardless of the date they are received.No authorship fee is paid for articles in Geografski vestnik. Authors are entitled to one free copy of the publication.

 

Za avtorsko delo, poslano za objavo v Geografski vestnik, vse moralne avtorske pravice pripadajo avtorju, materialne avtorske pravice reproduciranja in distribuiranja v Republiki Sloveniji in v drugih državah pa avtor brezplačno, enkrat za vselej, za vse primere, za neomejene naklade in za vse analogne in digitalne medije neizključno prenese na izdajateljico. Če avtorsko delo ni v skladu z navodili za objavo, avtor dovoljuje izdajateljici, da avtorsko delo po svoji presoji ustrezno prilagodi. Izdajateljica poskrbi, da se vsi prispevki s pozitivno recenzijo, če so zagotovljena sredstva za tisk, objavijo v Geografskem vestniku, praviloma v skladu z vrstnim redom prispetja prispevkov in v skladu z enakomerno razporeditvijo prispevkov po rubrikah. Naročeni prispevki se lahko objavijo ne gledena datum prispetja. Članki v reviji Geografski vestnik niso honorirani. Avtorju pripada 1 brezplačen izvod publikacije.