Laguna de Gallocanta

The Gallocanta Lake (Spanish: Laguna de Gallocanta) is an endorheic lake in Aragon, Spain. Falling within the boundaries of two provinces, Teruel and Zaragoza, the lake is located just to the south of Gallocanta village, between the Aragonese comarcas of Campo de Daroca and Comarca del Jiloca. This lake is situated on a high continental plain at an altitude of almost 1,000 m.[2]

Laguna de Gallocanta
Laguna de Gallocanta
LocationCampo de Daroca and Jiloca Comarca, Aragon
Coordinates40°58′00″N 1°29′50″W
Primary inflowsRío de la Hoz de los Pozuelos, Arroyo de Cañada, Arroyo de Santed
Primary outflowsNone
Catchment area543.35 km2 (209.79 sq mi)
Basin countriesSpain
Max. length7.7 km (4.8 mi)
Max. width2.8 km (1.7 mi)
Surface area14.6 km2 (5.6 sq mi)
Average depth0.5 m (1.6 ft)
Max. depth2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Water volume5×10^6 m3 (180×10^6 cu ft)
Surface elevation995 m (3,264 ft)
SettlementsBello, Gallocanta, Berrueco, Tornos and Las Cuerlas
Designated7 June 1994
Reference no.655[1]

It lies in a 53,600 ha natural basin known as El Campo de Bello, encircled by the Iberian System mountain ranges of Sierra de Santa Cruz and Sierra de Pardos in the north, Sierra Menera in the south and Sierra del Caldereros in the east. It is an intermittent rain-fed lake, largely dependent on abundant autumnal and spring rains if it is to maintain a sizeable amount of water into the hot summer months. During the summer of 1969 drought the lake dried completely, leaving a crust of salt and remaining dry for a long spell.[3]

Ecology

The Laguna de Gallocanta is one of the most important stopover sites for migrating common cranes in Spain, being able to give shelter to an average population of 30,000 birds at one time between December and February. Migration phenology of common cranes is changing due to climate change.[4] The lake also holds a wide array of wetland birds when its water level permits, while its shores are visited by steppeland birds and raptors.[5]

Protected areas

In the 1970s Gallocanta Lake was designated a National Hunting Reserve (Refugio Nacional de Caza de la Laguna de Gallocanta).

In 1994 Gallocanta Lake was declared a Ramsar site, protecting an area of 6,720 ha as a wetland of international importance.[6] The lake has also received designations specifically for its importance to birdlife:

Tourism

There is an interpretation centre with displays on the lake's geology and wildlife.[9] There are also private initiatives promoting bird tourism.[10]

See also


References
  1. "Laguna de Gallocanta". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. Ayuntamiento de Gallocanta
  3. La laguna de Gallocanta
  4. Orellana, J.M.; Bautista, L.M.; Merchán, D.; Causapé, J.; Alonso, J.C. (2020). "Shifts in crane migration phenology associated with climate change in southwestern Europe" (PDF). Avian Conservation and Ecology. 15: 16.
  5. Bird watching: Province of Zaragoza
  7. "Gallocanta lake (ES095)". Birdlife International. Retrieved 2017-10-10.
  8. Alonso, J.C.; Alonso, J.A.; Bautista, L.M. (2018). "A review of the crane-agriculture conflict at Gallocanta Lake" (PDF). Cranes and Agriculture: A Global Guide for Sharing the Landscape: 272–279. Lay summary.
  9. Centro de Interpretación de la Laguna de Gallocanta
  10. Allucant (tourism website)
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