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| 7ES003 |
Laguna
de Fuente de Piedra |
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| Coordinates: |
37º07'N
004º46'W |
Elevation:
0 m. |
Area:1,364
ha |
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| Location:
|
The
site is located about 20 km northwest of the city of Antequera, province
of M laga, in the autonomous region of Andaluc¡a, in central southern
Spain. It lies approximately 10 km southwest of Laguna
Amarga, part of the Ramsar site Lagunas del sur de Córdoba. |
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| Criteria:
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1a,
2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c
The site is of special importance because of its nesting colony of Phoenicopterus
ruber (12,000 pairs in 1988). Laguna de Fuente de Piedra is one of
the most important breeding sites for this species in the Mediterranean
region (second only to the Camargue, France). Other nesting birds include
the rare gull Larus genei and Gelochelidon nilotica, while Anser
anser, Tadorna tadorna and Netta rufina are amongst the wintering
species. The fields surrounding the lagoon support nesting Circus pygargus
(at least 20 pairs) and Burhinus oedicnemus, as well as up
to 250 wintering Grus grus.
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| Wetland
Types:
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R,
M, N, Ss (dominant type listed first)
The site consists of a large shallow, seasonally variable, saline lagoon
(the largest lagoon in Andaluc¡a), and the surrounding marshlands. |
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Biological/
Ecological notes
|
The
edges of the lagoon and the island ridges are covered by halophytic vegetation
(e.g. Arthrocnemum sp., Suaeda sp., Salicornia sp. and Frankenietea
sp.). The emergent aquatic vegetation is dominated by Phragmites
australis and Arundo donax. The affluent rivers support beds of
Juncus subulatus, Scirpus maritimus and Ranunculus muricatus. |
|
|
Hydrological/
Physical notes
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The
lagoon is 6.5 km long and 2.5 km wide. It is situated at the centre of
a basin that has no drainage to the outside. The wetland is fed by five
small rivers, by rainfall and by highly mineralized groundwater. It contains
many narrow, emergent ridges, most of them artificial. There are three
small hills on different sides of the site. The wetland is surrounded
by an old canal dug to protect the adjacent agricultural lands from flooding. |
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| Human
uses
|
The
area is owned by the province of M laga. There is some tourism (birdwatching).
A hydrological survey was made in 1983. Conservation Measures: The site
has been designated a Natural Reserve (Reserva Natural) by the state,
and is also a EU Special Protection Area for birds. No recent information
concerning conservation measures is available. |
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Conservation
Measures
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|
Adverse
Factors |
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| References |
{a16} |
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