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The Natural Area formed by the lake of l'Albufera and its
surroundings was declared a Natural Park on 8 July 1986. The
area covers 21,000 hectares distributed among thirteen
municipalities: Valencia, Alfafar, Catarroja, Silla, Sueca,
Sollana, Massanassa, Sedaví, Albal, Albalat de la Ribera,
Cullera, Beniparrell and Algemesí.
Various environments characterise this singular space: to begin
with, the lake of l'Albufera, which lends its name to the Park,
and whose original area has been reduced mainly by the action of
man, transforming it to allow for the cultivation of rice. The
poor quality of the water, due to industrial, urban and
agricultural contamination, has caused the disappearance of
numerous animal and
plant species.
Surrounding the lake, covering an area of approximately 15,000
ha,
the Marjal consists mostly of rice fields. This crop provides
many different landscapes, according to the various phases of
the crop’s development and represents the main feeding area for
the birds living in the Natural Park.
Finally,
the Restinga is the coastal ridge separating the lake of
l'Albufera from the Mediterranean Sea. With a maximum width of
almost one kilometre and 30 km in length, it is crossed by five
“Golas” or channels: El Pujol, El Perellonet, El Perelló, El Rei
and La Sequia de Sant Llorenç, which communicate the Lake with
the sea. At present, a large part of this restinga is
occupied by buildings and urbanizations. At present, only one
section, of about 10 km in length, known as the “Devesa de
l'Albufera”, conserves an important dune system with rich
vegetation which has been preserved only in this area.
More information
here
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