Complejo Lagunar de Laguardia

The Laguardia Lagoon Complex is a protected wetland located in the vicinity of Laguardia, in the Rioja Alavesa (Alava), in a landscape of vineyards and gentle hills dominated to the north by the Sierra de Toloño. It is made up of several small wetlands, including Carralogroño, Carravalseca and Prao de la Paúl; the sources consulted describe it as a group of four wetlands, with partial areas of 7.6 ha, 8.3 ha and 26.5 ha for three of them, and a total area of 42.4 ha, plus a peripheral protection area of 160.2 ha. Their main interest is geological and hydrological: two of the lagoons are temporary and endorheic, i.e., without external drainage, settled on impermeable clays and with behavior linked to the scarcity of water and the strong continental climate. In dry periods a whitish saline crust appears, a very characteristic feature of the enclave. The fourth wetland, Prao de la Paúl, is a small reservoir created on an old waterlogged area. The site is of interest for the flora and fauna typical of inland wetlands, especially waterfowl and waders. The public use documentation recommends a visit between September and March, when bird watching increases, and highlights Prao de la Paúl as the most accessible wetland to walk around and observe with binoculars or a telescope. Its environmental relevance is high: it was declared a Protected Biotope by the Basque Government and later integrated into the network of protected areas as a special conservation area. It is also on the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance, which reinforces its value as a unique enclave in the southern plains of Alava and the Rioja Alavesa.