Protection Name and Figure:
Wildlife Refuge of the Laguna de Gallocanta.
Declared by Decree 69/1995, of April 4, of the Diputación General de Aragon.
Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA), according to Directive 79/409 / EEC.
Included in the list of Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR Convention) by Agreement of the Council of Ministers of March 17, 1994.
Municipal Terms:
Bello, Berrueco, Las Cuerlas, Gallocanta, Santed y Tornos.
Extension:
6,720 hectares.
Altitude:
Between 995 meters and 1,085 meters.
Main Species:
Marsh Harrier, Mallard, Common Gosling, Lapwing, Avocet, Great Bustard, Black-winged Stork, Black-faced Sandpiper, Common Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Crane, Ortega, Black-footed Booby, red duck, common pochard, white jar and black-necked zampullin.
Description
In the Tierras de Daroca and Calamocha, 1,000 meters above sea level and occupying the bottom of a large endorheic basin, is LAGUNA DE GALLOCANTA.
Its waters come from several springs - the so-called "eyes" - and from the rains, which causes constant fluctuations in the surface occupied by the lagoon
that gets to dry in periods of strong drought.
Laguna de Gallocanta.
From always, this Natural Space has faced numerous problems. At the end of the 19th century, it was planned to dry the lagoon to extract salt.
At the end of the 70s, the administration once again the desiccation is proposed, but the mediation of different personalities, among which Felix Rodríguez de la Fuente stands out, succeeds in paralyzing the project.
From 1985 Protective measures are beginning to be adopted on this enclave: that year, National Hunting Refuge was declared, in 1987 it was included in the Special Protection Areas for Birds Network (ZEPA) and in 1994 in the list of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention).
But the protagonists of the Laguna de Gallocanta are the cranes.
Thousands of them use their surroundings to winter, which generates the protests of the populations that see their crops invaded by these birds.
A compensation system has been established to alleviate the damage, but the lack of agreement has made the problem not yet resolved.
For the time being, the procedure for the preparation of the Natural Resources Management Plan for the Gallocanta SPA has been initiated and the Laguna Council has been constituted as a consultative and participatory body in the management of this Natural Space.
Place of wintering and migratory passage of numerous birds, LAGUNA DE GALLOCANTA is currently the best preserved example of saline lake in Western Europe and the largest natural lagoon in the Iberian Peninsula.
The conservation of such a unique enclave belongs to everyone.
Other Protected Natural Spaces in Aragon:
- Natural Reserve of the Galachos de la Alfranca de Pastriz, La Cartuja and El Burgo de Ebro.
- Natural Park of the Dehesa del Moncayo.
- Park of la Sierra y Cañones de Guara.
- Park of Posets-Maladeta.
- Protected landscape of the pine forests of Rodeno.
- Natural Monuments of the Pyrenean Glaciers.
- National Site of National Interest of San Juan de la Peña.
- National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido.
- Ordesa-Viñamala Biosphere Reserve.
- Wildlife Refuges.
Also Aragon enjoys a diverse and varied Nature where passing by plants, animals, Geology, or landscapes we can arrive at a fantastic bestiary that lives in its monuments.
The information will not be complete without a stroll by its three provinces, with shutdown in some of its spectacular landscapes like Ordesa, the Moncayo, Monegros or by opposition the Ebro.
Also you can dedicarte to the intangible ones: from the legend compilation that also does to universal Aragon.