Guadalquivir Marshes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guadalquivir Marshes
Marismas del Guadalquivir
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Las Marismas del Guadalquivir landscape, depicting rice fields in the Isla Mayor area.
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 Guadalquivir Marshes
Location in Spain
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| Country | Spain |
| Region | Andalucia |
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| • Total | 2,000 km2 (800 sq mi) |
The Guadalquivir Marshes are a huge area of wetlands (marshy lowlands) in southern Spain. They are found along the lower part of the Guadalquivir River. People often just call them Las Marismas.
These marshes cover large parts of the Huelva, Seville, and Cádiz provinces in Andalucia. Many towns are near or within this area, such as Isla Mayor and La Puebla del Río.
The Guadalquivir Marshes are very important for growing rice. About 40% of all the rice grown in Spain comes from this region. Some parts of the marshes are also protected areas for wildlife, including sand dunes and special habitats.
Contents
How the Marshes Formed
About 2,000 years ago, this area was a large lagoon (a shallow lake) and estuary (where a river meets the sea). It was known as Lacus Ligustinus. This lake connected to the Guadalquivir River mouth.
Over a very long time, the lake slowly filled up with silt (fine sand and mud) carried by the river. This process turned the lake into the marshland we see today. The silt also formed a long barrier of dunes, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) long, along the coast. These dunes are called Arenas Gordas, which means "the fat sands".
Farming and Economy
Today, the main activity in the Guadalquivir Marshes is agriculture. Farmers here mostly grow rice. A large area, about 400 square kilometers (150 square miles), is used for rice farming.
This region produces around 310,000 metric tonnes of rice every year. This makes up about 40% of all the rice grown in Spain. It shows how important the marshes are for the country's food supply.
Protecting the Marshes
The marshland acts as a special "buffer zone" for Doñana National Park. This park is a very important protected area with marshes, streams, and sand dunes. It helps keep the park safe from human activities in the surrounding region.
Doñana National Park was created in 1969. The World Wildlife Fund worked with the Spanish Government to buy a large part of the wetlands. This helped to protect the amazing nature found there.
Amazing Wildlife
The Las Marismas area is home to many different kinds of animals. You can often see deer, lynx, and wild boars living on the land.
The marshes are also a paradise for birds. Many different bird species live here, including vultures, flamingos, herons, spoonbills, and ducks. A very special bird found here is the rare Spanish imperial eagle. This eagle is considered a vulnerable species, meaning its population is at risk.
See also
In Spanish: Marismas del Guadalquivir para niños
