Southeast of drab San Miguel de Cabo de Gata village, some of Spain's last surviving sea-salt-extraction lagoons draw flocks of migrating flamingos and other water birds from spring to autumn: by late August there can be 1000 flamingos here. Birdwatching hides are placed at a few strategic points.
Salt is no longer collected from the lagoons but sea water is still let into them for the sake of the birds, via a channel at La Fabriquilla, at the south end of the lagoons.
