Saladas de Chiprana

Saladas de Chiprana is a complex of inland salt lakes located in the municipality of Chiprana, in the province of Zaragoza, within the Bajo Aragón-Caspe region of Spain. It is one of the very few places in Western Europe where a permanent, deep saline lake exists under a continental climate — a genuinely rare combination on the continent.

What are the Saladas de Chiprana?

The protected area consists of six endorheic lakes — lakes with no outlet to the sea, where water is lost only through evaporation. The largest and most significant is the Salada Grande, accompanied by the Salada de Roces, the Prado del Farol, and three smaller basins. The core nature reserve covers 155 hectares, surrounded by an additional peripheral protection zone of 361 hectares.

What makes Salada Grande unique?

Salada Grande reaches a depth of up to five metres, making it the only endorheic lake in Western Europe combining permanently saline water with such considerable depth. Unlike many other inland salt lakes, which typically dry out during summer, water levels here remain relatively stable throughout the year, peaking in May and dropping to their lowest in September. This stability sets it apart from other saline lakes on the Iberian Peninsula, many of which undergo seasonal desiccation cycles.

What is the water like?

The lake's salinity reaches around 80 grams of salt per litre. Interestingly, the dominant mineral is not sodium chloride but magnesium sulphate (epsomite), with common table salt present only in smaller quantities. This particular chemistry creates a highly distinctive environment that favours organisms adapted to extreme salt concentrations.

Why is this site ecologically valuable?

The bed of Salada Grande hosts a unique microbial mat, often compared by scientists to some of the earliest forms of life to appear on Earth. Thanks to this exceptional ecosystem and its excellent state of conservation, the area has been designated a Reserva Natural Dirigida (managed nature reserve) by the Government of Aragón, and it is also recognised as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Who is this destination for?

Saladas de Chiprana appeals mainly to nature lovers, birdwatchers, and anyone interested in geology or limnology, the study of lakes. The reserve sits in a quiet, sparsely populated part of Aragón, away from mass tourism, making it a good spot for observing waterbirds and wetland species drawn to this unusual habitat.

Frequently asked questions

How many lakes make up the Saladas de Chiprana complex? Six endorheic lakes, the largest of which is Salada Grande.

Why doesn't the water in Salada Grande dry up? Local hydrology keeps water levels relatively stable year-round, peaking in May and dropping to a minimum in September, unlike many other inland salt lakes on the Iberian Peninsula that experience seasonal drying.

What protection status does the area have? It is a Reserva Natural Dirigida established by the Government of Aragón and is also listed under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance.

What distinguishes this lake from other saline lakes in the region? Salada Grande is the only endorheic lake in Western Europe that combines permanent water, considerable depth (up to five metres), and high salinity.