Albufera Natural Park. Lake and natural park of Albufera Lake Albufera in Valencia
The Laguna Albufera Park is located in the suburbs of Valencia, the distance to it is about 13 kilometers in the south.
Albufera is wetland with a humid environment. The eco-value of this territory led to the appropriation of the land nature reserve status what happened in 2001. Here people get to visit wild nature, where birds flying from all over Europe live in their natural environment and at the same time interact with people. Ducks and herons live in the bushes on the shore; in the ponds there is a high population of trout and eels, and there are a lot of frogs (the swampiness has its effect).
"Albufera" or in Russian "Little Sea" is an Arabic word. Inherited from the times of the Moorish reign in Spanish territories.
This territory began to form during the Pleistocene. Initially, the Valencian plain split between the Jucara and Turia streams, and then the bay was closed when the lagoon and the sea finally separated during the era of Roman rule. At that time, the height of the lake above sea level was higher than the modern level; the surface of the water was about 30 thousand hectares. But people needed land to grow rice, so the territories silted up, as a result of which they decreased to 28 thousand hectares. So today, along with freshwater bays and sand dunes, a third of the park area is reserved for rice plantations. Back in the era of the Roman Empire, drainage canals were created to control the water level and the ecological balance of this natural area.
First mentions The now reserved lands go back to the time of the ancient Iberians. The writings speak of meadows ideal for grazing cattle, interesting plants and a lake in the middle of which there was a miniature island and a Mount of Saints with olive trees.
When power was in the hands of the Islamists, Albufera was given as a gift for the alliance with El Cid to the Emir of Zaragoza Al-Musta. Since 1250, this land became part of the crown, and the inhabitants of Ruzava (Valencia) received a privileged right to fish with a certain tax.
The territory of Albufera was legally regulated by almost all Spanish monarchs from Pedro the First to Philip the Fourth. By the end of the 17th century, hunting was banned in Albufera. True, later Carlos III changed this order.
During the French conquests, Louis Sushi received from Joseph Bonaparte the title of Duke of Albufera and the territory of the same name as a gift; the land was returned to Spain only in 1818, when Ferdinand the Seventh again ascended the throne.
In the second half of the 19th century, the territory of the future reserve began to shrink. Some species of wildlife are disappearing. In May 1865, Albufera became part of the state. And in the 20th century, Valencia bought the land. Then, in 1927, the landscape and ecological value of the acquisition was discussed. By the end of the 20th century, the park already had the status of a “special area for the protection of birds” and “a place of pan-European importance”.
Lake Albufera is considered the largest of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula. Its area is 3 thousand acres, of which 3 hundred hectares are occupied by islands and shallows. Every year, due to natural processes, the size of the lake decreases.
The sea and the lake are separated only by a 1.5-kilometer sand spit, overgrown with pine trees. It acts as a natural dam, preventing salt and fresh water from mixing. The lake, impressive in size, is actually very shallow - the depth does not exceed a couple of meters.
What is so special about Albufera? Of the 350 species of birds, a hundred have chosen the lake to nest. Photo hunting is very popular. Birds, by the way, are not afraid of tourists. Therefore, you can clearly see the birds and even feed them. A boat ride on the park's lake will be wonderful. Albufera sunsets are worthy of paintings! Fishing is also common here. Fish can jump out of the water (sometimes right into the boat) - the main thing is not to fall into the lake out of surprise. The territory of the park is crossed by numerous tour routes, which can be covered both on foot and by bicycle. Signs will help you find your way. The longest route is 11 kilometers.
Not so long ago, in 2011, Albufera celebrated 25 years since it acquired the status of a natural park and the centenary anniversary of the transfer of the territory to Valencia (until 1911, the land was the property of the crown for 6 centuries). Moreover, the park is protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which has international status. UNESCO is also lobbying for the interests of the zone, but their project to protect Albufera is still under consideration.
Today Albufera Park is a favorite place for Spaniards to relax, relax and take beautiful photographs. They also say that it was in the Albufera area that she was born "paella"– a delicious Spanish dish based on rice. Why not try paella in one of the local restaurants?
Within the park there are campsites and hotels Thus, you can come for a while as part of a tour group or by bus from Valencia, or you can stay and spend a few days here.
Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.
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Albufera Natural Park is one of the largest and most bird-rich wetland parks found on the Mediterranean islands. Its area exceeds 1645 hectares. The park was declared a protected area in 1988, and today there is a section open to the public, a permanent exhibition and a large number of viewing platforms and marked routes.
The inhabitants of the park are for the most part a wide variety of birds that inhabit water meadows, swamps, canals and ponds. For any birdwatcher, this place is a treasure trove of species. All kinds of ducks, cranes, herons, storks, and migrating birds live here. More or less conventionally, the park is divided into two parts: the central protected area and the “depuradora” with adjacent territories in the south.
Visiting the park is free, but ideally guests are asked to go through the reception and get a pass.
The inhabitants of the park are for the most part a wide variety of birds that inhabit water meadows, swamps, canals and ponds.
For those wishing to explore this most pleasant place in an organized manner, several guided tours have been developed in the park. The most popular ones begin in the center of the park and provide the opportunity to see the maximum number of birds at once in a short time. There is also a route that takes visitors to the village of El Grau, located in the middle of the forest - this excursion is convenient during the peak of the summer heat.
You can also rent a boat in the park. Photography lovers will definitely enjoy this opportunity: hit the road closer to sunset.
Albufera Natural Park
Practical information
The protected area can be reached by taking the C712 highway heading south from Port d'Alcudia. Parking is located on the right side of the road between the Playa Esperanza Hotel and the Palace de Muro. You can also get here by bus number 25 of the municipal company EMT (the bus goes from the city center of Valencia in the direction of El Palmar). You need to get off at the Embarcadero or El Palmar stop if you want to enjoy a boat ride across Lake Albufera. In addition, it is possible to get to the natural park by Albufera Bus Turistic - this is a comprehensive excursion throughout the park, during which participants drive through rice fields and also ride a boat.
The park can be explored on foot or by bicycle (two of the four hiking trails are suitable for this). Completing the developed sightseeing route will take approximately half a day.
10 kilometers south of Valencia is Lake Albufera, the largest lake of the Iberian Peninsula, which is one of the important attractions of Spain, surrounded by a natural park of the same name. Translated from Arabic, Albufera means “small sea.” That's what the Moors called this miracle of nature. A one and a half kilometer natural embankment, the sands of which are held back by the powerful roots of pine trees growing on the coast, is all that separates this huge reservoir of fresh water from the Mediterranean Sea, forming a kind of natural platinum. Currently, the area of the lake is almost 3000 hectares, and is decreasing every year due to the natural drainage of these areas. Despite the large area, the depth of the lake is small, only 2 meters, while special drainage channels are designed to maintain the water level at the same level, maintaining the ecological balance of this unique place.
Lake Albufera is home to a huge variety of birds; for some the lake is their only habitat, and for many it is a “must stop” during migration. In the waters of the lake you can find a wide variety of fish, which, according to the stories of local residents, jump into boats.
Lake Albufera is considered the birthplace of the famous Spanish paella; rice fields occupy 223 square kilometers around the lake. Restaurants located in the area adjacent to the lake are famous for their paella and other rice dishes throughout Spain. Newlyweds often choose Lake Albufera as a location for their wedding photos. Photos are especially beautiful against the backdrop of the sunset over the lake, which is reflected in its waters in a bizarre way. It is no coincidence that the Arabs called this “small sea” the mirror of the sun. The lake and surrounding areas have been declared a protected area. The Government of the Valencian Community has adopted a special plan for the conservation of the lake and the Albufera Natural Park. This plan received support from environmental organizations not only at the Spanish level, but also from the European Union as a whole. You can enjoy the beauty of Lake Albufera by boat. Local residents will be happy to provide you with this opportunity for a very reasonable fee.
We decided to go to Albufera lake and natural park (El Parque Natural de la Albufera de Valencia), located near Valencia. I wanted to see the lake and the Mediterranean Sea, which was supposed to be relatively close. Previously, we found a public bus that was supposed to take us to Albufera. However, we did not take into account the fact that it is January 1st. As a result, after waiting for about 30 minutes at the stop, we found out from the locals that buses from our stop in the direction of the lake and the park are not running today. There will be tomorrow, but today is a day off. This fact did not stop us and we quickly caught a taxi with a local driver who spoke good English. In 20 minutes and 20 euros, he took us to the observation deck on the lake, while giving us a tour of the city while driving and leaving his contact information just in case.
Albufera is a lake and national park where many different migratory birds can be found. There are special tabloids here that depict all possible representatives of birds that can live here.
When we got out of the taxi we immediately realized that it would be very warm today. The sun was shining brightly. In January the weather here is mostly clear. Daytime air temperatures in the Valencia region reach 18-20 degrees. By our St. Petersburg standards, this is summer. In summer you can take a boat and ride around the lake. Maybe it’s possible in winter, but on January 1st there was no one here. We decided to just go for a walk along the coastline and enjoy the sun's rays.
Small towns are located between Lake Albufera and the Mediterranean Sea. On the way to the sea we found a small pond, against which you can see photographs of the nearby town of Les Gavines. Most apartments have beautiful views of either the sea or the lake and the Albufera Natural Park. Very convenient! 🙂
We hardly noticed any people on the beach. Apparently, for local residents this weather is considered cool or everyone was sleeping off after celebrating the New Year.
If you use the camera zoom, you can even take a closer look. Everything is pretty close.
The Mediterranean Sea looks inviting even in winter. Naturally, we couldn’t resist splashing in the water. Even if it was +11 degrees.
In the Albufera Natural Park you can spend a whole day in a calm, interesting and eventful way. Breathe fresh air, walk along the lakes and the sea, and, if desired, take a swim.
And what beautiful sunsets over the lake there are. Simply an amazing sight!
After enjoying the sunset, we decided to walk to the nearest town - El Saler. There we had a snack at the cafe of the same name and took the bus to Valencia, which runs here every day, despite the holidays. We were taken to Valencia and at one of the stops near the Oceanarium we decided to get off ourselves to continue our walk through the evening city.
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