Marismas de Isla Cristina
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Spain Province of Huelva |
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| Coordinates | 37°12′28″N 7°21′44″W / 37.207718°N 7.362343°WCoordinates: 37°12′28″N 7°21′44″W / 37.207718°N 7.362343°W |
| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 21.45 square kilometres (8.28 sq mi) |
| Notification | September 23, 1989 |
| Natural England website | |
The Cristina Island marshes (Marismas de Isla Cristina) are located at the mouth of the river Carreras in the province of Huelva, Andalusia, in southern Spain. Created in 1989 (Law 2/89 of the inventory of the Protected Natural Spaces of Andalusia), the natural park has a surface area of 21.45 square kilometres (8.28 sq mi), shared between the municipalities of Ayamonte and Isla Cristina.
The marshes are shared between the municipalities of Isla Cristina for 7.44 square kilometres (2.87 sq mi) and Ayamonte for some 14.00 square kilometres (5.41 sq mi).
Marshes in general are humid areas, low-lying, swampy terrains that are flooded by sea water during high tide. They usually lay in estuaries areas, such as here.
The tidal dependence of these ecosystems gives them an almost total absence of seasonality. From the landscape point of view one can differentiate between the marshes, those areas in which man's intervention has transformed the ecosystem for its own use and the other better preserved areas.
Where the marshes have been transformed, among others for the development of marine aquaculture, bodies of water distributed as ponds and pools are the main elements of the landscape. Despite the uses developed in this area they maintain the original channels and estuaries of the marsh. The constancy that the marsh has acquired is very significant. In the areas where the marshes are better preserved, it maintains the characteristic bushes of these wetlands. The vegetation consists of communities of halophytes, typical of these types of habitats and adapted to the daily tidal flooding.
The animal communities are also important. The birds are the most representative group in this ecosystem, contributing an important peculiarity to the landscape. The homogeneity of the color of the scrub is contrasted with the presence of water, an element which carries great attraction. In this reserve the panoramic landscape has a special importance ; its very flatness allows a scenery with very broad views, opening to one's view the lands of neighboring units, emphasizing the views of the city of Isla Cristina or of the pine forest. A highlight throughout the day are the distinct tonalities of the marsh due to the changes in light as the day goes by.
Follows a more detailed description of the different parts comprised within the Marshes of Cristina Island.
The unit is 266.12 hectares. It is a protected natural place where needlegrass (esparto) is the most abundant species along with halophyte (salt tolerant) species. In less flooded areas appear the broom bush and the reed. The geomorphology shows a large flat coastal fringe, a transition from land to sea with seasonal fluctuations. The bird life (see Fauna for more details) of the marsh includes many species of water fowl which bring great value to the unit. Along with the fauna of the highly valued ecological marsh, one should emphasize the values of the landscape, since the unit is of great interest both for its high quality and its fragility. In the southern part it is closely bound to the city of Isla Cristina, in the north the marsh is bordered by the Verde Litoral road.
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Wikipedia