The Delta-ENG

Natural Park of Delta del Ebre

The Ebre Delta is the largest wetland in Catalunya. With its 320 square km, is the most important aquatic habits of the western Mediterranean after the Camargue (French Regional Park), and second in the Spanish State, after the Doñana National Park.

On the other hand, considerable biological role contrasts with the profound humanization of a large part of its surface and its not inconsiderable weight setting. The harmony between natural values and exploitation by humans has never been easy.

In order to make this harmony possible, at the request of the inhabitants of the municipality of Deltebre, the Government created by decree of 1983, ratified and extended by Decree 332/1986, of October 23, 1986, Delta Natural Park the Ebre, where it is stated that the Ebre Delta wetland area is the first in Catalunya and its importance is recognized internationally by top agencies. Indeed, since 1962, was included in the classification of the Euro-African wetlands of international interest made by the Bureau MAR with Category A (urgent priority).

It has a total area of 7,736 Ha of which 3,979 correspond to the region of Montsià (hemidelta right) and 3,757 to the Baix Ebre (hemidelta left), covering the gaps in the Olles, the Canal Vell, the Garxal, the Alfacada, the Platjola, the closed and Encanyissada, the islands of Buddha, Sant Antoni and Sapinya, the peninsula of Punta de la Banya (els Alfacs) and sludge, ullals of Belshazzar and the moors of Casablanca.

The landscape of the Delta has a strong personality that makes it unique in Catalunya. Completely flat land and give it a peculiar appearance. Inside, separate sections of garden crops and fruit trees, large and vast rice fields, changing with the seasons (winter earthy, water flooded in spring, green in summer) have a special beauty. In the coastal strip presents one of the most attractive lake landscapes of the Mediterranean, a large basin bordered by sugarcane fields and rushes. In the peripheral, large areas of saline soils with vegetation haldfila (cirialeres, reed beds) and even the long, deserted sandy beaches, dunes crowned with reeds and other vegetation samples psammophyte, well adapted to the environment. The natural park mode seems appropriate, making a decisive move preservative compatible with the maintenance and improvement of the orderly development of production of the protected area, and the promotion of contacts between man and nature by enhancing the knowledge of the values and amenities of the area, within an approach that many international experiences have proven viable.

Foto: Jacob Garcia

Foto: Hans Hillewaert

The lotus flower, abundant in the Delta

Foto: Manel Zaera

Illa de Buda from the shipper,

at the mouth of the river Ebre

Foto: Pixel

Delta traditional hut