San Miguel de Salinas - the official rough guide of San Miguel de Salinas, Costa Blanca, Spain


	Every now and again we get an opportunity to remind ourselves how small this world is... we also get an opportunity to discover how others see us - Enjoy this article on Canadian visitor - Roger Davies

San Miguel de Salinas
37° 58′ 50″ North, 0° 47′ 23″ West:
100 metres above Sea Level:
Municipal Area 54,90 km²
Spain total area: 504 782 km²
Population 8160 as at 11 February 2008
SMdS growth Oct 2004 - present 15.91% / Oct 2005 - present 6.65%
Spanish Population 40,397,842 (July 2006 est.)
European Population 807,289,020 (12.4% of World's Population)
European Internet Users 308,712,903 (38.2% of population & 28.4% of world's)

This Satellite Photo of SMdS is in the Google Library.
Click here to visit SMdS and anywhere else in the world!

Check out our map of the Coastline
It has all the beaches and coves from
Torrevieja to Pilar de la Horadada.

foto from Derrick Bevan
sunrise on the Feast Day of San Miguel Arcángel - 2006

Distances - Alicante (regional capital) 59 kms., Orihuela 20 kms., Torrevieja and the Costa 11 kms., Murcia and Cartagena both about 45 kms. 246 kms to Valencia

Described as being on The Balcony of The Costa Blanca, San Miguel de Salinas nestles on a promontory of Mount Calvario of The Alcores Hills, seen in the background of our picture, and looks out over the fertile alluvial plains of The Rio Segura, the salt lakes and finally the coast of the Mediterranean. The town, with a municipal area amounting to 54,90 km², is about 100 metres above sea level, the most elevated in the area, and benefits from a sheltered position. The mountainous backdrop is covered with pine groves, wild rosemary and thyme, and some cultivated vineyards, whilst in the foreground there are groves of oranges, lemons, olives, almonds, pomegranates and fields of artichokes and salad vegetables.

Our picture, taken on 24 February 2006, shows a grove of almond trees or Almendros, just outside San Miguel de Salinas. This time of year the blossom creates a snowy hue on the hillsides, although there is little scent. The established groves do need cultivation...they require rough ploughing between the rows to aerate the soil. Young trees need irrigation, the older gnarled trees send deep roots into the substrata to seek out the underground aquifers. With very few rainy days there is heavy reliance on the century's old skill of irrigation.

Population of San Miguel de Salinas as at February 2008 is 8160

Statistics say it all, since we first published details of the population of San Miguel de Salinas in October 2004, registered Spanish of the pueblo have increased by 52 souls, whilst the influx of 1541 foreigners from the European Union and elsewhere in the world has increased the SMdS population by 24.25% to today's figure of 8160 (an increase of +4.97% in the last 12 months). The July 2006 milestone, when registered persons of UK origin overtook the number of Spanish neighbours, was predictable. The Spanish population now accounts for 35.35% whilst those of UK origin have reached 41.25%. There are 59 different nationalities represented on the Town's Padron. Information courtesy of Excmo. Ayuntamiento de San Miguel de Salinas.
And here are our latest quarterly figures - February 2008 | full analysis pdf

Nationality	15 Oct 2004		19 Jan 2005		10 May 2005		4 August 2005
Spanish	2832	43.1%	2816	42%	2819	40.89%	2834	40.35%
UK	2209	33.6%	2315	34.5%	2442	35.42%	2543	36.2%
German	631	9.6%	639	9.5%	647	9.38%	644	9.16%
Others	895	13.7%	937	14%	985	14.29%	1002	14.26%
Total	6567		6707		6893		7023

Nationality	25 Oct 2005		18 Jan 2006		25 April 2006		9 August 2006
Spanish	2837	39.75%	2838	39.25%	2858	38.8%	2843	37.83%
UK	2626	36.79%	2697	37.30%	2762	37.5%	2892	38.49%
German	661	9.26%	669	9.25%	689	9.35%	695	9.25%
Others	1013	14.19%	1026	14.20%	1057	14.35%	1084	14.43%
Total	7137		7230		7366	+136	7514	+148/2.01%

Nationality	5 Oct 2006		18 Jan 2007		24 April 2007		11 Oct 2007
Spanish	2840	37.3%	2835	36.47%	2872	36.75%	2892	35.90%
UK	2954	38.8%	3082	39.65%	3138	40.14%	3290	40.84%
German	697	9.15%	719	9.25%	724	9.24%	724	8.99%
Others	1121	14.75%	1137	14.63%	1083	13.85%	1150	14.27%
Total	7612	+98/1.74%	7773	+161/2.11%	7817	+44/0.576%	8056	+5.8% p.a.

Nationality	11 February 2008
Spanish	2884	35.35%
UK	3366	41.25%
German	724	8.87%
Others	1186	14.51%
Total	8160	+104/1.74%

In an article from Єciudadanos Europeos reports 9th February 2007 - 307 inhabitants per km2 in Alicante province
Alicante is one of the provinces to have experienced the greatest increase in population over the past 10 years. There are now 307 inhabitants per km2, up 69 since 1996. The coastal municipalities have seen the main growth in population. For instance Baix Vinalopo (the area of Torrevieja) has an average of 560.9 inhabitants. “Inhabitants” refers only to permanent residents, not tourists or non-resident property owners.
For comparison: Argentine has 13.1 inhabitant per km2, Australia 2.6, Belgium 31.8, Bolivia 8.0, Botswana 2.9, Bulgaria 72, China 135, Denmark 125, Germany 231, France 109, UK 244, India 319, Iceland 2.8, Italy 191, Japan 337, Canada 3.1, Croatia 79, Luxembourg 172, Holland 389 and Norway 14.

Juan Román Patiño, Councillor for Promotion, Agriculture and Heritage of San Miguel de Salinas has provided the following figures for the production of Citrus Fruits within the municipal boundary: the figures below relate to 2005.

Since these published figures it is predicted that there is a dramatic downturn in the agricultural economy. The agricultural heritage forming the basis of our local economy it is rapidly diminishing in favour of the commerce associated with a rapid growth in population.

In our conversations with Councillor Juan Román Patiño, whose father cultivated almonds, it is evident that he shares foreign residents' sadness at the loss of agricultural tracts but says the agricultural economy cannot be sustained. His greatest sadness was the inevitability that the local knowledge from centuries of citrus cultivation will be lost very quickly and forever.

We are grateful for his comments and expect to work with his closely in the future.

CULTIVO (crop) - 2005	Total has (hectare)	Produccion media en Alicante (Average production in Alicante)	Estimacion total toneladas (estimate ton)
CITRICOS (citrus fruits)	1.636		35.272
NARANJO DULCE (orange tree)	717	21	15.172
MANDARINO (mandarin orange tree)	209	17	3.628
LIMONERO (lemon tree)	702	23	16.307
POMELO (grapefruit tree)	2	21	41
LIMERO Y OTROS CITRICOS (lime tree and other citrus fruits)	6	21	124

Language - although the official language is Castellano there is a local dialect amongst the older Spanish residents, a mixture of Valenciano and Murciano.

Here's a little item on the main Languages used on the planet - apparently in number one spot is Chinese Mandarin as number one, with 836 to 1.100 million users; followed by 320 to 330 million who call English their first language. The third place is disputed by Spanish and Hindi/Urdu, estimates of native Spanish speakers ranging from 300 to 322 million, and Hindi/Urdu from 182 to 333 million. Amongst the “also ran” are people with Russian as their principal language (160 to 170 million), Arabic (175 to 200 million), Bengali (185 to 190), Portuguese (160 to 170), Japanese (125), German (98 to 100) and French (72 to 79).

After Canadian Roger Davies had competed in The World Masters Athletics Championships in Riccione, Italy in September 2007 guess where he came on his way home. Yes, you have it, to visit his sister Christine who lives in San Miguel de Salinas.

Roger Davies, with a Bachelor of Science from Durham University, has been a master athlete for 25 years competing all over the world at the highest level. At home in Calgary Alberta Roger’s life revolves around running, with running camps, workshops & clinics, ‘Critical Speed’ triathlon, marathon & endurance coaching, promoting the cross-training benefits of Yoga, Tai Chi, pool running, and snowshoeing; he runs ‘Active Lifestyle’ clinics and lectures on injury prevention – he really is a true champion of the science of running… it almost exhausts me when I read his accomplishments, not least of which is writing articles for a number of specialist magazines including his home club The Calgary Roadrunners.

You can imagine my delight when I heard that Roger had written about San Miguel de Salinas in an article entitled ‘The Butchers’ Wine’; he wrote:

“After competing in the World Masters Athletic Championships in Riccione Italy this September, I was able to spend a few days with my sister in Spain. Christine lives in St Miguel de Salinas a beautiful village on the Costa Blanca. This area is a little bit of heaven for runners with runs past salt flats and pink flamingos, through orange groves or up into rolling sandy hills covered in scrub and cacti.

Along an irrigation canal supplying water to orange groves stretching to the horizon, I was surprised to find ceramic tiles marking every 100 metres on the side of the concrete walls. 7.4 km, 7.5 Km, 7.6 Km etc, etc. perfect for running timed repeats; flat and accurately measured. On a run into the hills, past a castle, I was thinking “No measured markers today” but I was wrong! I came to a large white stone with 1 Km carved into it, and then on to the 2k stone. Just like the milestones I remember in the English country roads. No ‘Garman’ GPS needed here! Along the salt flats the only markers were the pink flamingos and a multitude of other birds.

The quiet village of San Miguel has cobbled streets with marble sidewalks and street cafes. We went to a parade and free concerts in the village square. The air was warm, soft and clean, the people cheerful and friendly and there were lots of delicious oranges. But, best of all I would go with my sister to the butchers’ shop where, in addition to buying her meat, the butcher would fill a 2 litre empty coke bottle with local red wine from a large wooden barrel for Euro 1.30. Who could ask for anything better?”

Pictured above: Bearded Roger on the podium in Australia, and left: Roger leading Spanish, French and British runners.

As much as anything, Roger’s article tells us all how others see us when they visit the pueblo. He obviously enjoyed the running and it sounds very much like he ran the infamous Rebate Road… I am glad he will also remember ‘The Butcher’s Wine’. You can find out more about Roger Davies on his Natural Posture Running website - click here

Red Dot Feature - Aruba

Since our first Red Dot Feature we are always looking for new website visitors from an unusual place in the world to ask the question - why San Miguel de Salinas?

Meet the Bok Family from Aruba

Previously we featured an IP address in Ulaanbatar in Mongolia where Alison and Derick Davies lived with their beautiful daughters Melissa and Nadiya

When BAZ, Bastiaan M Bok, first emailed this website little could we imagine how a family living on a little island off the coast of Venezuela would end up finding us and little would we discover so many facts about Aruba through our exchange emails. So a bit of real geography to indicate how we are all part of the GLOBAL Community and a bit about Family BOK. Pictured are Rosa Maria with Valery and Laila the chihuahua, Johan and Ivan.

The Spanish were the first Europeans to discover Aruba in 1499, naming it 'Isla Inutil' as it was dry and barren with white sandy beaches: they found it to be inhabited by a tribe of Aruwak Indians from Venezuela. Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636 and they built Fort Zoutman in 1796 creating the location of today's Capital Oranjestad - 'Orange City'. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and so it remains today. So what happens in Aruba? One word would sum it up - Tourism, as it has become an important and exclusive resort for the American market and now increasingly for European visitors, with top class hotels charging up to 500 US$ per night. The island benefits from being outside the Caribbean's hurricane belt and besides a rainy season from August thru January when a maximum of an hour's rain per day adds to the high humidity 92%, it has a mean temperature of 35˚ Celsius.

One or two facts about Aruba: Lat/Long 12 30 N, 69 58 W: total area 193 sq kms (SMdS 54 sq kms): Population 71,891 (July 2006 est.): highest point Mount Jamanota 188 m: Languages - Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish: Flag Day, 18 March: Rank Order for Oil Production 97 - 2,363 barrels per day: currency Aruban guilder/florin (AWG) - 1 euro = 2.2 florins:

The Bok Family - BAZ was born in Curacao, moving to Surinam,then Indonesia and finally Aruba as he travelled with his father who is in the Power Industry. Baz met his wife Rosa, from Guanare, a little town in the centre of Venezuela. They settled in the Santa Cruz area of Aruba in a suburb called Picaron and have been developing their property with Ecolodge Apartments for the tourist industry. The area is close to Arikok Park an area of natural beauty. Baz started his own business as a watercraft technician and completed some courses in Holland and he works on automotive troubleshooting and repairs for Seadoo, Kawasaki ,Yamaha Waverunners and Seagoing Boats. He will maintain his business when the family come to Spain.

So why SMdS? "Well", says Baz, "we have three beautiful children Valery, Johan and Ivan and education in Aruba is sorely lacking, particularly for teenagers. We want our children to know Spain and its culture and have an opportunity to explore the countries of Europe...to enrich their lives. We were impressed with the information on the website and the response we had to the questions we asked about the Pueblo, Education and the general area. So we settled on SMdS and are currently looking for some rental property in which to start our future."

Thanks for the compliments Baz and our exchanges - we have enjoyed the correspondence ...and if you want to contact Baz you can via an email to the website. And if you visit the website from some 'far-flung and romantic place', for whatever reason, tell us because we would love to feature you, the place, the geography.

This graph shows the growth of population from 1985 to present. We acknowledge the support of The Ayuntamiento de San Miguel de Salinas for providing our population statistics.

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San Miguel de Salinas
Email: info@san-miguel-de-salinas.com