Marismas del río Palmones

Marismas del Río Palmones Natural Space, at the mouth of the river, is a natural barrier in the Bay of Algeciras. It is located between the municipal areas of Algeciras and Los Barrios, in the Campo de Gibraltar region. The most unique thing about Palmones, compared to the other wetlands in the region, is that it is a Mediterranean estuary with Atlantic features.

The singular nature of this area is due to the fact it has been conserved to the present day in an area where there is great urban and industrial pressure that has not resulted in the deterioration of the landscape. It has three different biotopes: a set of dunes about one kilometre long; a marsh with many intertidal channels and a floodable area; and the remains of a dried-up marsh.

The muddy areas are covered with a carpet of plants adapted to high concentrations of salt, such as giant reeds, glassworts and rushes. In the intertidal area is vegetation, with a large presence of shrubby sea-blite, kermes oak, mastic, green olive tree, sage-leaved rock-rose, Moorish myrtle and black hawthorn; while the coastal strip of dunes is home to marram grass, sea holly and a species of great interest, ephedra.

The geographic location of this area is ideal for birds, as it includes the main gateway for migratory birds on their intercontinental trip, with more than 350 registered species, such as its abundant plovers, sandpipers and herons. This extraordinary ornithological diversity includes special representation among overwintering migratory species: the squacco heron, common spoonbill, spotted crake, common crane, Caspian tern, greylag goose, gadwall and northern pintail.