Pink and green salt lagoons sit side by side near Torrevieja, Spain
Near the Mediterranean coast in the province of Alicante, in south-eastern Spain, the lagoons of La Mata and Torrevieja display contrasting colours and have long been used for salt production. The La Mata lagoon is less saline than the Torrevieja lagoon, whose waters are extremely salty, or hypersaline. Salt-loving microorganisms thrive in these conditions and contribute to Torrevieja’s characteristic pink hues. Both lagoons form part of a natural park included in Natura 2000, the European Union’s network of protected nature areas.
This image, acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 21 September 2026, shows the lagoons. The La Mata lagoon, to the north, appears dark green, while the Torrevieja lagoon, to the south, appears green to the west and pink-brown to the east. A dyke, built as part of the salt-production infrastructure, extends through the eastern part of the Torrevieja lagoon and separates these two areas of contrasting colour. Agricultural land and urban areas border the lagoons, with the Mediterranean Sea visible beyond the town of Torrevieja.
Copernicus Sentinel-2 data support the monitoring of changes in the surface water of coastal wetlands and in the surrounding land cover. These data can inform the conservation and management of such ecosystems, including those protected under Natura 2000.
