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| 7ES030 |
Embalses
de Cordobilla y Malpasillo |
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| Coordinates: |
37º19'N - 004º40'W |
Elevation:
0 m. |
Area:1,972
ha |
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| Location:
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These
two embalses (reservoirs) are situated in the south of the province of
Córdoba, alongside the Genil River, which forms the boundary between
the provinces Córdoba and Sevilla, in the autonomous region of
Andalucˇa. |
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| Criteria:
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2a,
3b
The Embalses de Cordobilla y Malpasillo are especially important in winter
for the globally threatened duck Oxyura leucocephala, but also for Porphyrio
porphyrio, Ardea purpurea, A. cinerea, Egretta garzetta, Anas platyrhynchos,
A. clypeata and Circus aeruginosus. Smaller numbers of Phoenicopterus
ruber, Himantopus himantopus, Recurvirostra avocetta, Charadrius alexandrinus
and C. dubius also occur.
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| Wetland
Types:
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6,
Tp, W
The site comprises two permanent freshwater reservoirs. |
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Biological/
Ecological notes
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Stable
water levels have given rise to a dense riparian vegetation, composed
of Typha dominguensis, Arundo donax and Phragmites australis. Around the
Embalse de Cordobilla there are stands of the shrub Tamarix and riparian
trees like Salix sp., Populus sp., and Ulmus minor. The Embalse de Malpasillo
is shallow and supports extensive marsh vegetations, with Typha dominguensis,
and smaller areas of Iris pseudacorus and Scirpus spp., together with
Populus spp. There is also a great diversity of terrestrial habitats within
the site, which are important for raptors like Aquila chrysaetos, Hieraeetus
fasciatus, Buteo buteo, Circus pygargus, Accipiter nisus, Falco peregrinus,
F. tinnunculus and F. naumanni. |
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Hydrological/
Physical notes
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The
man-made embalses of Cordobilla and Malpasillo do not experience great
annual fluctuations in water level (even in extremely wet or dry summers
and winters). Cordobilla has an average depth of 10 m, and a total volume
of nearly 34 million cubic metres. The Embalse de Malpasillo (volume approximately
six million cubic metres) acts as an overflow for another reservoir, the
Embalse de Iznajar. The most important freshwater supply comes from the
Rˇo Genil, which is fed by the meltwaters of the Sierra Nevada, and regulated
by the Iznajar reservoir. |
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| Human
uses
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The
predominant land use in the area is agriculture. There are olive groves,
cereals, and some irrigated crops. |
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Conservation
Measures
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The
two reservoirs are Natural Parks (Parajes Naturales). The Environment
Agency of the Junta of Andalucˇa made an agreement with the Sevillan Electricity
Company - owner of the land occupied by these reservoirs - to maintain
optimal water levels for breeding waterbirds, in particular the duck Oxyura
leucocephala. |
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Adverse
Factors |
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| References |
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