Salinas de Manaure

Manaure, Guajira Department, Colombia – 12 August 2006

Manaure, the arid region in northern most part of South America (Guajira Peninsula), with its very hot and dry climate throughout the year and with the naturally formed lagoons, has always been favorable for the salt production. The salt explotation, run in this area by the Wayuu Indians and later by Colombian mestizos, is known since the pre-Columbian era. Although nowadays the salt production reach to one million tons a year, processed both by industrial and artisanal methods, no social or economical development has been marked in the local community.