Torrevieja is set to promote its pink lake as a tourist attraction with authorised swimming. The project includes the regeneration of a large area of the lake and surroundings to allow bathers to avail of the restorative properties of the waters and mud.
Currently, swimming in the salt lake is strictly prohibited and could result in a hefty fine. This is mainly due to safety concerns for swimmers following an incident a few years ago when a woman collided with salt mining equipment while swimming in the lake.
Now however, the town hall wants to create a bathing area with news emerging that the local government team has ordered the start of the technical, legal and economic study for the establishment of ‘a restricted area for bathing’ at the iconic pink lake.
University study
A university study, commissioned by Torrevieja town hall, was carried out by scientists in Madrid and Alicante and confirms the therapeutic benefits of the salt waters and surrounding mineral-rich mud.
Torrevieja’s Mayor, Eduardo Dolón said that it’s likely some of the old buildings would be refurbished for the purposes of the project and a preliminary study was commissioned and carried out by an architectural firm. He also said that in addition to a bathing area, it is proposed to have a museum space for the salt industry and research facilities for scientists to further study the therapeutic properties of the lake.
The City Council and the salt mining company, Nueva Compañía Arrendataria de las Salinas (NCAST), have prepared an agreement of intent, which they are set to sign. The agreement will cover ‘the enhancement and tourist exploitation of the industrial architectural heritage of the salt mines of Torrevieja and La Mata.’
The area to be used will likely be a zone to the northeast of the lake and unused since the 1970s. The infrastructure already included two large warehouses with wooden platforms which could be repurposed for the initiative.