The origins of the salt pans of Janubio, the biggest sea salt production area on the Canary Islands, can be found at the end of the XIX century. In 1895, history says that Vicente Lleó Benlliure started to use the sea behind the black beaches of Janubio to build the first evaporation basins to obtain sea salt and with continuous work and extension during the following 50 years; the now very impressive salt pans were formed. Even though the days of glory of the pans have gone, they are still very important part of the history of Lanzarote.

The process of production is basically the same as it was 100 years ago. The seawater is filtered by the beach and stays in its natural form. From there it is pumped into a canal that directs the water to big evaporating basins, which can be seen next to the road. There, the sun and the always present wind, start the first phase of concentration. From the big basins, the water is directed through pipes into smaller basins, where more and more water evaporates and the salt concentration in the water increases steadily. When at last the salt crystallizes, it can be collected manually with a rake and then it is put in a heap with the help of a shovel. Later, it gets collected, stored in the warehouse, cleaned and packed. All the work in the salt pans is done by hand and the only thing that has changed since the old days, are the pumps and engines they were run by windmills or by hand. Some of the windmills remain on the plant, leaving a reminder of their recent past.