Key Takeaways
- ✓ The pink colour comes from Dunaliella salina algae — most vivid in late summer.
- ✓ Two lagoons: the pink Laguna de Torrevieja and the green Laguna de La Mata.
- ✓ Flamingos are present most of the year — biggest flocks from October to March.
- ✓ Entry is free. Walking and cycling trails are open year-round.
- ✓ Swimming in the lake is officially prohibited — it is a protected nature reserve.
Why Is the Lake Pink?
The striking pink colour of the Laguna de Torrevieja is caused primarily by Dunaliella salina, a microscopic single-celled alga that thrives in extremely salty water. The lake’s salinity is around 350g/L — roughly ten times saltier than the Mediterranean. Dunaliella salina produces high concentrations of beta-carotene as a natural sunscreen, which gives the water its distinctive pink-to-magenta hue.
Artemia salina (brine shrimp) also live in the lake and feed on the algae, contributing to the colour. The intensity of the pink varies with the seasons, being most vivid in late summer when evaporation concentrates the salt and algae. In winter the colour softens to a pale rose, and after heavy rain it can appear almost white as the salt concentration temporarily dilutes.
The second lagoon, Laguna de La Mata, appears green rather than pink because its salinity is lower (around 100g/L), favouring different algae species. The two lagoons are connected by a canal called El Acequión and together form the Parque Natural de las Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja, a protected natural park covering over 3,700 hectares.
Salt Production History
Torrevieja’s salt industry dates back to the late 18th century and remains commercially active today. The Laguna de Torrevieja produces around 600,000–800,000 tonnes of salt per year, making it one of the largest salt-producing lagoons in Europe. The salt is harvested mechanically from the lake bed, washed, dried and exported worldwide for road de-icing, food processing and industrial use.
The salt industry shaped the town’s identity and economy for over 200 years. The Museo del Mar y de la Sal (Museum of the Sea and Salt) in Torrevieja harbour tells this story in detail, including the traditional salineros who harvested salt by hand until the mid-20th century. Today the salt company Nueva Compañía Arrendataria de las Salinas de Torrevieja operates the commercial extraction under strict environmental controls.
Flamingo Watching
Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) are one of the star attractions of the salt lakes. The Laguna de La Mata is the primary feeding ground, and flocks of 500–2,000+ birds are common between October and March when the lagoons serve as important winter feeding grounds on the Mediterranean flyway. Smaller numbers are present throughout spring and summer, including breeding pairs.
The best vantage points are along the north shore of La Mata lagoon, accessible from the Centro de Interpretación (free visitor centre with maps and binoculars). Dawn and dusk offer the best light and the calmest birds. Bring binoculars or a telephoto lens — the flamingos tend to stay 100–200 metres from the shore. Other notable species include avocets, black-winged stilts, Kentish plovers and, in winter, marsh harriers and ospreys.
Practical Visitor Tips
Both lagoons are completely free to visit, with no entry fee or ticket required. Well-marked walking and cycling trails circle both lakes — the full La Mata lagoon loop is approximately 10km and takes around 2–2.5 hours on foot. The terrain is flat and easy, suitable for all fitness levels and pushchairs. Cycling the trail takes about 45 minutes.
The therapeutic muds along certain accessible shoreline sections of the Laguna de Torrevieja are tolerated for personal use, but swimming or floating in the main body of the lake is officially prohibited. The lake is a protected nature reserve and entering the water is illegal, carrying a fine. Despite this, you may see people wading in — we recommend respecting the rules.
For photography, visit the pink lake in late afternoon when the low sun intensifies the colour. The most accessible viewpoint is from the south-eastern shore, reachable by car from the CV-905 road between Torrevieja and Los Montesinos. In summer, a polarising filter dramatically improves photos by cutting surface glare and deepening the pink tones.