The Nature Reserves of la Laguna Amarga, Laguna de Tíscar, Laguna de Zoñar, Laguna del Rincón, Laguna de los Jarales and Laguna del Salobral, form part of the wetlands known as the Wetlands of the South of Cordoba.These areas were all declared Nature Reserves in 1989 due to their special position as wintering and nesting grounds for migratory birds.Laguna de Zoñar, close to Aguilar de la Frontera, an area dominated by olive trees and vineyards, is the most important of Cordoba’s wetlands. The Laguna de Zoñar is in reality a complex of three lakes, a main lake and two smaller adjacent lakes.Its waters come mainly from the subsoil, from underground aquifers, which reach a depth of 13 metres in some points.Laguna Amarga, located in a steep valley covered with olive trees, has a high concentration of magnesium sulphate, which explains its name [Bitter Lagoon], and just a few kilometres away we find the Laguna de los Jarales, which is the smallest of all the lagoons in the south.It is almost circular in shape. The volume of water that is collected in winter disappears completely by the middle of June. Birdlife includes the white-headed duck and the calamon.Close to Laguna Amarga we find Laguna Dulce [Sweet Lagoon], which is currently dry. The waters of Tiscar contain a high concentration of gypsum salts. The Laguna del Rincón is located in a zone of smooth slopes dedicated to the growing of cereals and vines.With the exception of the Laguna de Tiscar, all are permanently filled with water and therefore are surrounded by indigenous vegetation such as giant reeds, cat’s tail, rushes, cane and subaquatic vegetation that forms masses on the surface, along with honeysuckles, sarsaparilla and spurge laurel.In terms of aquatic fauna attention should be drawn to the silverside fish in the laguna de Zoñar, a fish of limited distribution in the Peninsula, although the lagoons are characterised by their important community of birds, highlighting the Malvasia, calamon, the white crested duck and the common duck in Zoñar.The common coot and common duck are found in la Laguna Amarga, whilst the little grebe, grebe, mallard and coloured duck are found in the Laguna del Rincón.The Laguna del Conde or Salobral is, along with the Laguna de Zoñar, one of the largest lagoons in the region. It lies next to the Córdoba-Granada road, between the municipal areas of Baena and Luque. Its particular characteristic is that is a salt water lagoon, and the surrounding vegetation is conditioned by this, consisting mainly of scrubland.In terms of fauna, attention should be drawn to the coots, cranes and flamingos.The series of lagoons in Cordoba are also very rich in terms of tourist resources of a diverse nature [historical-artistic, ethnographic and cultural] making them an ideal place to visit.The villages around the lagoons include Lucena, Aguilar de la Frontera, Puente Genil, Baena and Luque.Signposted pathways:Sendero del observatorio (laguna de Zoñar)La carrizosa ( laguna de Zoñar )
Useful Information:
- Visitors CentreTel. information: +34 957/ 335.252
- Laguna de Zoñar El Lagar: +34 957/ 335.252
- Laguna del Rincón
