Laguna Amarga is a small endorheic lagoon in the countryside of Lucena, in the south of Córdoba, integrated in the Natural Reserve of the same name. It is part of the group of wetlands in the south of the province and was declared a protected area along with other wetlands in the area, with a total area of 288.91 ha and a very small core reserve. Its saline character explains both the name and the changing appearance of its waters, which have varying shades depending on the light and the concentration of salts. From the surroundings you can see an open sheet of water, framed by riparian vegetation and the agricultural landscape of the western Subbética. It is a particularly interesting place for the observation of aquatic birds and to understand the functioning of seasonal and permanent ponds in the countryside, linked to gypsiferous or loamy soils and the dynamics of runoff and evaporation. The Junta de Andalucía describes it as one of the endorheic wetlands protected since 1984 and reclassified as a Nature Reserve in 1989. Its relevance is linked to the conservation of birdlife and the wetlands of Lucena, very present in nature tourism guides of the Subbetica. The visit is more grateful with soft light in the morning or evening, when the water better reflects the environment and the presence of birds is usually easier to appreciate.
