Laguna de Talayuelas micro-reserve

A lake that rises and falls

The lake at Talayuelas is shallow and its level changes through the year. Underwater are stonewort beds with water-crowfoots and amphibious bistort, which can colour it pink. Reeds, bulrushes and rushes grow on the shore. Around it are maritime-pine forest and red sands forming ravines and gullies, such as the one called «Plaza de Toros» (Bullring).

Who lives here

It is a refuge for waterbirds: little grebe, mallard, water rail, moorhen and coot. Grey herons and shovelers arrive in winter; great reed warblers and Cetti’s warblers breed here, and Eleonora’s falcon passes through in spring. There are many Iberian ribbed newts, and in the surrounding woods, wild boar, rabbits, hares, squirrels, badgers, stone martens, genets and wildcats.

The Valle del Cabriel Biosphere Reserve has a project under way to improve its habitats.

A lake that was almost lost

It has been a micro-reserve since 21 February 2003, with 29.66 hectares, and forms part of Natura 2000 within the Sierras de Talayuelas y Aliaguilla Special Area of Conservation. It is a very fragile ecosystem: so shallow that it easily silts up or dries out. Artificial drainage almost made it disappear, and a dam had to be built to save it. To the north are deposits of wind-blown sand, and a well and irrigation hut, now converted into a bird hide. In a province made almost entirely of limestone, its siliceous rodeno, the red sandstone of the south-east, setting makes it different.

Plan your visit

The interpretive trail circles the shore and ends at the bird hide.

Before you travel

This is a micro-reserve: do not enter the water, disturb birds or take anything from the shore.

Combine with

The Cañón Rojo, the red sands of the same municipality.