Salt Mines in Manaure

If you’ve ever seen pictures of tourists in the white mountains of Colombia, don’t worry, it’s not cocaine, we Colombians don’t like it very much. Actually, these are tons of salt stacked in front of the Manaure Sea in the department of La Guajira.

A little of history

The salt mines in Manaure or the salt mines of Manaure were formed by the rising Caribbean Sea that surrounds the coasts of the municipality. It is said that the exploitation began when the tide rose and formed saltwater pools a few meters from the shore, which over the days evaporated and finally crystallized forming a white layer of this mineral.

The ponds have an average of 4,200 hectares that can produce one million tons per year. This entire exploitation process lasts approximately 6 months. It belongs to SAMA (Salinas Marinas de Manaure), but is operated by the private company BIG Group, which divides its actions with indigenous people organized by associations and the state.

Production process

This is divided into two stages, manufacturing and harvesting.

Manufacturing

It comprises sequentially the feeding of the ponds with seawater that is introduced to the ponds by means of a station or point of feeding by pumping. As the current progresses due to the effects of the sun and the winds, the water contained in the brine formed, evaporates and increases its salt concentration until it reaches the characteristic conditions of crystallization becoming virgin brine.

Then, in an area established by design, loads and refills of saturated brine from crystallizers and ponds begin to operate; Once the crystallization process is finished, a large compacted layer of salt crystals that form a kind of cake is obtained.

Harvest

This stage includes several steps: scarifying and crumbling, transport and passage, washing and applying. The collection process is carried out in 2 ways, the first as mechanized collection is done only in the crystallizers and the second, when it comes to indigenous ponds, the collection operation is manual using tools such as picks, shovels and wheelbarrows. Then we proceed to move it where its function is to load, remove, weigh and transport to the washing site that is carried out in the plant that aims to reduce and separate impurities.

Here the process basically comprises for its execution, when they finish this process, the final product is moved for storage or export.

How to get there?

The salt mines are in Manaure, located 63 km north-east of Riohacha. There are two ways to reach this municipality: There are two ways to reach this municipality:

• Taking the trunk road of the Caribbean, with a completely constructed road and in an approximate time of one hour and forty-five minutes. This route includes two tolls.

• Another option, somewhat dangerous and risky, where some 15 artisanal tolls are sometimes waiting for you (they consist of a rope or something to stop the car) and those who expect to be given a tip, candy or food … but you can be lucky that these artisanal tolls are not there.

We recommend that, if you like things clear and without setbacks or risks, you better take the first option.