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Laguna de Fuente de Piedra Natural Reserve

Diputación de Málaga
GR 249. Stage 18. Fuente de Piedra - Campillos. Immature Flamingos wading at the shore of a lagoon

Laguna de Fuente de Piedra Natural Reserve

Laguna de la Fuente de Piedra (Fuente de Piedra Lagoon) Natural Reserve is found in the northern part of the province of Málaga, next to the town bearing the same name. It is the largest lagoon in Andalusia, covering an area of 1,354 hectares, and is considered to be one of the most extensive and characteristic endorheic complexes in Spain.

This lagoon is a protected area of the first order among the wetland areas of the Western Mediterranean.

The largest lagoon in Andalusia, it is of the endorheic variety, with highly saline waters due to the nature of the substrata. It possesses a fresh water reserve in the shape of an artificial canal lying at its edge. It is surrounded by a series of low hills; the Sierra del Humilladero lies to the east of the lake.
Intensive agriculture is carried out in the large areas that surround the lake, with wheat, sunflowers, safflower and oats the main crops; the olive grove is also exploited.

As an important nesting zone for the pink flamingo, gull-billed tern and slender billed gull, the area is of immense ornithological value. Also to be found are kites, storks, marsh harriers, ospreys, etc. This lagoon, which has been declared a Nature Reserve, is home to the second largest flamingo colony in the whole of Europe (only the Camargue in the south of France is bigger). It is also rich in all manner of aquatic birds (the common shelduck, common goose, red-crested pochard, purple swamp hen and crane). Mammals include the hedgehog, common bat, rabbit, hare, garden dormouse, fox, badger, etc

The most notable aspects of the local flora are the presence of communities of halophytes and endemic aquatic species. In addition to typical lacustrine vegetation, the lake is surrounded by tamarisks, evergreen oaks, kermes oaks, olive trees and Mediterranean scrub (lentisk, gorse and greenweed, among others).

Location

In the North of the province of Malaga. Access is via the N-334 and N-342 roads.

Relief

The largest lake in Andalusia, it is of the endorheic variety, with highly saline waters due to the nature of the substrata.

It possesses a fresh water reserve in the shape of an artificial canal lying at its edge. It is surrounded by a series of low hills; the Sierra del Humilladero lies to the east of the lake.

Plant Life

The most notable aspects of the local flora are the presence of communities of halophytes and endemic aquatic species. In addition to typical lacustrine vegetation, the lake is surrounded by tamarisks, evergreen oaks, kermes oaks, olive trees and Mediterranean scrub (lentisk, gorse and greenweed, among others).

Agricultural crops are also to be found.

Animal Life

As an important nesting zone for the pink flamingo, gull-billed tern and slender billed gull, the area is of immense ornithological value.

This lake, which has been declared a Nature Reserve, is home to the second largest flamingo colony in the whole of Europe (only the Camargue in the south of France is bigger). It is also rich in all manner of aquatic birds (the common shelduck, common goose, red-crested pochard, purple swamp hen and crane).

Also to be found are kites, storks, marsh harriers, ospreys, etc. Mammals include the hedgehog, common bat, rabbit, hare, garden dormouse, fox, badger, etc

Event

Intensive agriculture is carried out in the large areas that surround the lake, with wheat, sunflowers, safflower and oats the main crops; the olive grove is also exploited.

Mining (extraction of metals) also takes place.

How to get there

More information

Discover more about the province of Malaga

Discover more about the province of Malaga