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Let me please
introduce you to Doņana, one of the most important natural sites in Europe.
Doņana is a land of
contrasts. It is part of Europe but is influenced by Africa; it is by the Atlantic Ocean but is affected by the Mediterranean Sea. It lies between two continents and supports many species which is hard to imagine coexisting in the same
territory.
Doņana is not important just for the rare species which it
holds, such as the Iberian Lynx or the Spanish Imperial Eagle. It is also important for its
immense diversity. More than half of Europe's species
of birds are recorded in Doņana, many of them in huge numbers. Hence it is of great importance for the
European avifauna.
 
The
area stands out for its outstanding bird communities and an interesting
collection of flowers, insects, reptiles - amphibians and mammals complete the
mosaic of Doņana´s natural history.
The seasonal changes are so strong that Doņana can appear unrecognizable when visited at different times of the year. Most of species
of birds are present only in Winter, but we get a good number in the breeding season
and on passage. Huge areas of marshes flood in Winter, but then dry out by the end of Summer.
In addition, in its
nearly 1.1000 square kilometres, we find a high variety of habitats, ecosystems
and landscapes. Pine woods, scrubland, cork-oak forests, coastal lagoons,
riverbank forests, marshes, sand dunes, coastal cliffs, beaches, steppe lands,
rice fields, cereal fields, reed beds are some examples of them.
The history of Doņana is very recent. Only six thousand years ago the river Guadalquivir emptied into a huge estuary that covered what is now Doņana. Then the marine currents led to the formation of
sandbanks and today's coastline, cutting off a vast saline lake from the sea. This lake was slowly transformed into marshes by the accumulation of the
alluvial sediments.
Since the creation
of the National Park in 1969, Doņana has combined some of the most important
awards. In 1994 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Doņana there are two
main protected areas:
The National Park, a territory
under a very tight protection, with
public access restricted to its visitor centres and some marked footpaths around
them. In light green on the map.
The Natural Park, less strictly protected with more open access; this park is the natural continuation of the National Park and is
also of great importance for migratory and breeding birds. It offers a
large variety of birding itineraries. In light green on the map.
Since 2007 the
two parks are being managed jointly by the regional government under the
name of Doņana Natural Site (Espacio Natural Doņana).
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