Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park |
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| Parque Natural de las Lagunas de Ruidera | |
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| Location | Castile-La Mancha, Spain |
| Area | 3,772 ha |
| Established | 1979 |
| Governing body | Junta of Castile-La Mancha |
| Official name: Lagunas de Ruidera | |
| Designated: | 23 September 2011 |
| Reference #: | 2069 |
The Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park is a special natural park in Spain. It is home to 15 beautiful small lakes, called the Lagunas de Ruidera. These lakes are found in a flat area known as La Mancha.
The park covers about 38 square kilometers (14.6 square miles). It stretches across several towns. These include Argamasilla de Alba, Ruidera, Alhambra, Ossa de Montiel, and Villahermosa.
Contents
What Makes the Park Special?
The 15 lagoons are all connected. They link up through waterfalls, small streams, and even underground water flows. This amazing system stretches for about 20 kilometers (12 miles). The water flows from the southeast to the northwest.
The Guadiana River Connection
This whole water system is part of the Upper Guadiana River valley. People once thought this was where the Guadiana River began. The Guadiana is the fourth-longest river in the Iberian peninsula. The Upper Guadiana is just one of its many smaller rivers.
History and Legends in the Park
The park is not just about nature. It also has some interesting historical places. You can find the old castle of Peñarroya here. There are also the ruins of Rochafrida castle.
The Cave of Montesinos
One famous spot is the Cueva de Montesinos (Cave of Montesinos). This cave is mentioned in the famous book Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. In the story, the main character, Don Quixote, spends a night inside this cave.
Cervantes and the Park's Story
Miguel de Cervantes, the author, actually knew this area well. He worked here collecting taxes for the Knights of St John. In his novel, Don Quixote learns a magical story. The people living in the Cueva de Montesinos, including Guadiana and Ruidera, were turned into a river and a string of lakes by the wizard Merlin.
The King's House
You can also see the house of the King in the village of Ruidera. This adds to the park's rich history.
Protected Status
The Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park is very important for nature. UNESCO has made it part of the biosphere reserve called Mancha Húmeda. This means it is a special area protected for its unique environment. The natural park helps protect the main part of this reserve, which is the Tablas de Daimiel.
See also
In Spanish: Parque natural de las Lagunas de Ruidera para niños
