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Nature - Areas |
| Ebro Delta Nature Park |
The Ebro Delta
(delta de l'Ebro) is the largest humid zone in Catalonia. It is the second most
important natural aquatic habitat in Spain after the Doñana
National Park. The Delta is of international importance for its plant species
and its fauna, which consists mostly of birds as one can find 95 nesting species,
as well as a zone to spend the winter and feeding grounds for birds.
The National Park was created in 1983 to harmonise the natural values of the
area with the human activities.
Location: The park comprises the lagoons of Them Olles, the Vell Channel, the Garxal, L'Alfacada, the Platjola, the Tancada and L'Encanyissada, the islands of Buddha, St. Antoni and Sapinya, the peninsulas of the End of the Banya (Els Alfacs) and the Fangar, the Ullals de Balthasar and the deserts of Casablanca.
Size: The Ebro Delta Nature Park has a total surface area of 7,802 ha, of which 5,382 ha correspond to the Montsià region and 2,420 ha to the region of Baix Ebre.
Manager & owner: The actual Ebro Delta Nature Park was created in 1983 coming from a decree of the people of Catalonia, it is under the supervision of the environmental department of the government.
Actuality: It is estimated that more than half of the delta will be lost within the next 50 years. About 47% of the surface lies just 50 centimetres above the sea level and several cultivated areas lie below the level of the sea. Damming of the upper reaches of the Ebro has caused sediment loss and erosion of the delta, which has gone to up to 15 metres a year and has now become a serious problem. The sea level is estimated to rise at approximately 1.5 millimetres a year and the delta is nowadays sinking because of the weight of sediment by between 1 and 8 millimetres per year. Eutrophication (the process by which water, as a result of inorganic nutrient action on algae becomes deficient in oxygen and unable to support forms of life that are useful to man) of lagoons is also a serious problem. An other threat to the area is human trampling (fertilization and soil conditioning) during the summer season. The area is now threatened by the National Hydrological Plan (NHP) which aims for the building of 120 new dams on the river as well as enormous water transfers to Barcelona and the southeast of Spain.
Nature & Landscape
The landscape of
the delta has a great personality that gives a perfect picture of the unique
Catalonian character.
The delta has a variety of different ecosystems, including sand dunes, salt
marsh and rice fields, it is the most important agricultural region of Catalonia,
with rice being the main crop (50%), fruit and vegetables take up 25%.
Naturally results of changes in the seasons can be seen for example terraces
in winter, flooded by the water in the spring, green in summer. All these aspects
have their own singular beauty.
Forest
and Sand dunes
Around the coastal areas, an attractive lacustrine landscape of the Mediterranean
can be found, with great lagoons surrounded by reed beds and juncares. In the
forests, great saline ground extensions with vegetation “lasalicores fruticosos”,
(rushes of sea) can be found and in addition the long and desert sandy beaches,
with dunes and other samples of vegetation are a must to be seen.
Park zones
The Park is subdivided into nine zones of interest.
Flora & Fauna
Birds make up the most striking aspect of the fauna in the Ebro Delta Natural
Park. They are very important not only for human interest both also on an international
basis, both in quantity and quality. Because the amount of birds that can be
found in the park is so large and also the many different species are unique.
The bird population consists of 50.000-100.000, belonging to about 300 species
and 60 % of the total number of species to be found in Europe.
The park is on one hand breeding ground and on the other hand, a stopping place
for winter migrants. Therefore, the delta has been defined as an area of great
significance in many conventions and has always been typed in the ‘A’
category, as being in urgent need of protection.
The special characteristics of vegetation of the Ebro Delta have no significant
elsewhere in Catalonia. Not just in terms of the sparseness of the plant communities,
but also in terms of the quantitative potential. In the most recent catalogue
there are 515 species. Reed-beds can be found all over the Delta, in
places where the water level is high and the land is mostly drained with water.
Here, characteristic plants are reeds and large bindweed.
The riverside woods are the only forest on the delta. They are situated
along the banks of the Ebro. Common trees are the alder, ash, elm and water-willow.
Where the influence of the sea becomes stonger, the wood becomes thinner and
only oleanders and tamarisks can be found in these coastal area’s.
Climate
As for the temperatures, the average registered is of 18 ' Cs, with a minim
in January of 10.2 ' C and a Maximum in August of 26,8'C. The frosts are little
frequent.
Visitor Centres
L'AMETLLA DE MAR
Patronato Municipal de Turismo
Sant Joan,55
Tel. 977-45-64-77 - Fax: 977- 45-67-38
438760 L'Ametlla de Mar
L'AMPOLLA
Oficina Municipal de Turismo
Plaça González Isla, s/n
Tel. 977-59-30-11 - Fax: 977- 46-22-89
43895 L'Ampolla
Patronato
Municipal de Turismo
Pl. Manel Ferrer,3
Tel. 977-46-00-18
43895 l'Ampolla
AMPOSTA
Patronato Municipal de Turismo
Plaça González Isla, s/n
Tel. 977-59-30-11 - Fax: 977- 46-22-89
43895 L'Ampolla
DELTEBRE
Patronato Municipal de Turismo
Plaça 20 de Maig, 1
Tel. 977-48-93-09 - Fax: 977-48-95-11
43580 Deltebre
TORTOSA
Patronato Municipal de Turismo
Plaça Bimil-lenari, s/n
Tels. 977-51-08-22 / 977-44-25-67 - Fax: 977-58-58-02
43500 Tortosa
Nature management
The Delta, as we know it, dates from the end of the last ice age. Sediment was
transported by the Ebro and processed by marine, wind and water processes. One
can say that the Delta is a relatively recent feature on the Mediterranean coastline.
The period of major growth of the delta was in the fifteenth and sixteenth century.
The modern delta has been transformed by man on a large scale, as most of the
area is now used for agriculture (15.000 ha of rice and 9.000 ha of market gardening
and fruit orchards)
Finding the right harmony between natural values and operation of man has always
been difficult. With the aim to make this harmony possible, the majority of
Catalonia set up the Natural Park of the Delta of the Ebro. In 1980, the importance
of the delta was acknowledged by many organisations. Because of the massive
bird losses The Delta del Ebro Natural Park was created under strong public
pressure, protests were made against planned developments threatening the various
areas of the delta. In 1983, large public demonstrations were held which got
great media attention and this caused the opportunity to forward the idea of
making the delta into a Natural Park.
The delta of the Ebro is the first humid zone of Catalonia and is of great importance
on an international basis.
Visitor Info
Accessibility
The entrance of the Park is free. There are some two zones that are
prohibited for the public, “la island de Buda” and “la Punta
d ela Banya”. The coastal lagoons are also protected.
Hiking
The Park has got several walking paths on which one can find observation
tours, information centres and museums.
Biking
Rent of bicycles:
Deltur Services
43870 Amposta
Tel. 977-70-37-46
Turisport
43870 Amposta
Tel. 977-70-34-17
Also extensive itineraries for bicycle tours can be found on the website of
the park (www.ebre.com) with
description of what can be see during the route, which animals live in the specific
area’s, the length of the routes etc.
Excursions
All year: nature itineraries, routes and
excursions, itineraries for: bicycles, horse-riding, canoeing, boats, as well
as nature workshops, photographic excursions, weekend outings, and training
courses.
School Terms: daylong itineraries, school outings
of 3-5 days, with instructive and entertaining activities.
Summer: organised, weeklong "Nature and Adventure"
youth camps for children and teenagers - as well as instructive work camps for
teenagers.
Pleasure boat cruises: on three different itineraries:
Amposta-Ebre river mouth, Delte-Ebre river mouth, and a shorter river-mouth
excursion
Water
Almost the whole coastline of “la Costa del Delta” belongs
to the Nature Park. Only one or two of the beaches (for example the beach Riumar)
has got tourist services like bars, showers, waste bins, rescue services etc.
The other beaches have a natural atmosphere.
Dogs
In the zones with special protection, it is prohibited to take dogs
without tying them.
Catering
establishments
The
local kitchen rich and is varied and uses the natural resources the delta (it
hunts, it fishes, agriculture). Rice is the basic ingredient in the deltaic
region mixed with fish, meat and vegetables.
Many excellent restaurants can be found in towns situated in the Delta area
on the website of the park: www.ebre.com
Transportation
By car: A-7 freeway, from Barcelona to Valencia
(exits to the Village and Amposta). N-340 highway, from Barcelona to Valencia,
that surrounds the delta and crosses Ampolla, Camar to them, the Village, Amposta
and Sant Carles of the Ràpita. Asphalt roads to see the inner populations
of the delta. Bus-services from Barcelona to Valencia and between the different
populations from the delta are possible.
Train: Barcelona to Valencia, with stopover stations
Tortosa, l’Aldea-Amposta, Camarles and Ampolla.
Ferry: a public ferry service Sant Jaume d’Enveja-Deltebre,
on the ferries both passengers and vehicles cross the Ebre river.
Addresses
Tourist Centre
Nature’s Park Information Centre
Doctor Martín Buera, 22
Deltebre, 43850
Tel : ++ 34 977 48 96 79
Opening hours : Monday-Friday 10.00 am - 2.00 pm/3.00 pm - 6.00
pm
Saturday 10.00 am - 1.00 pm/3.30 pm - 6.00 pm
Sunday, public holidays 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
Administrative
office
Ebre Delta Nature Park Administrative Services
PI del 20 maig 2,
Deltebre, 43580
Tel : ++ 34 977 48 95 11
Birding
tours
Audouin Birding Tours: based in the coastal town of
Sant Carles de la Ràpita, on the edge of the Ebro delta. Guidings
in English, Spanish, Catalan, and Danish, www.audouinbirding.com
Camping
sites
There are
several other camping sites in Ampolla, Amposta and Deltebre. For more information
visit one of the visitor’s centres.
Hotels
Many hotels and pensions can be found in the surroundings of the Nature Park.
Other accommodations
It is also possible to stay in Shelters and Houses of colonies, which can be
found in Amposta and San Carlos de la Rapita.