PARC NATUREL DELS AIGUAMOLLS DE L'EMPORDÀ

Located in the Bay of Roses, between the mouths of the Muga and Fluvià rivers, this park was created in 1983 and covers 4,866 ha, 859 ha of which are integral nature reserves. It is the second most important wetland area in Catalonia and is a compilation of very diverse ecosystems: rivers, sea, lagoons, beaches and sandbanks, pastures... And a privileged place for birdwatching, as 329 species of birds have been recorded to date, either nesting or staying there in winter.

Within the park, 17 points are installed to observe them. On the wildlife side, otters and polecats are the largest mammals, and on the fish side, there are carp, eels and mullets, and for the rarest species, the Spanish aphanius and the three-spined stickleback.

The park ismade up of nine municipalities and, in terms of protected area, it is mainly concerned with Castelló d'Empúries (57.4%), Sant Pere Pescador (12.8%), Palau-Saverdera (10.2%) and Peralada (8.9%). The landscape differs according to location. On the coast, the marine areas are relatively shallow and sandy, protected from the Tramontana by the Gulf of Roses and bordered by beaches that are the last unspoilt beaches on the Costa Brava. Behind these beaches, between the mouths of the Muga and Fluvià rivers, are the llaunes, brackish lagoons where saltwort and sea rushes grow, due to the salinity of the soil. Inland, the closes, the typical pastures of the region, stand out. Surrounded by drainage channels and dotted with elm, ash, poplar and alder trees, they are often flooded in the rainy season as they occupy the beds of ancient lakes. The park is also crossed by a vast network of streams and canals.

The importance of the creation of the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Park can be understood bya few historical reminders . A long time ago, the marshes of the Empordà occupied almost the entire bay of Roses and the lower part of the river Ter. And when the Greeks settled on the Montgrí massif, it was still isolated by water. This vast marshy area has gradually disappeared, due to the draining of the land to expand agriculture and prevent malaria, and from the 1960s onwards, due to tourist facilities. A major environmental awareness movement, which began in the mid-1970s and continued in the early 1980s, led to the creation of the park in 1983.