Laguna del Chinche

Laguna de Chinche Nature Reserve is located in Alcaudete between the Baetic System and the Guadalquivir River Valley. it is one of the few lakes in the province of Jaén.

The lake is in a small endorheic basin of some 50 hectares, fed exclusively by surface run-off. This lake, of seasonal origin and with elevated salt content, only fills up in especially rainy years and for a short period of time, so it can be considered ephemeral and is usually covered by grassland.

At Laguna del Chinche the marsh vegetation around the edge of the lake is very deteriorated and very little remains, such as reeds, reed mace and tamarisks. Part of the reserve and protected fringes has been completely taken over by man, with olive trees being predominant. Here there are areas of scrubland with rockrose, broom, rosemary and thyme.

The water birds include the occasional presence of pink flamingos, black-winged stilts, pochards, mallards, wigeons, red-crested pochards and shovellers. As regards fauna associated with inland ecosystems, rabbits and red partridges predominate, as also occurs at the nearby Laguna Honda Nature Reserve.

The lake is a relatively important wintering ground for certain birds and a stopover for migratory birds. So, the best time of year to visit the lake is in winter.