Can Morgat lagoons

Next to the Banyoles lake, the emblematic landscape of inland Catalonia and a place of reference for scholars in the humid environment, a group of lagoons has been reborn in the Can Morgat plain. The aquatic life has now returned to this area where long ago the hand of man decided to strip it; a step forward in recovering a landscape that enjoys huge popular appreciation.

Banyoles lake is a natural space of indisputable geological, ecological, landscape and cultural value. It is formed by the lake and a series of ponds, wetlands and temporary lagoons that together constitute the most significant karstic system of the country. The Can Morgat lagoons are an example of the recovery of dried-up wetlands in the past for the benefit of agriculture.

Wildlife

Amphibians: Banyoles is a paradise for amphibians. The ponds and their surroundings offer frogs, toads, salamanders and newts a favourable habitat. Eleven species are found, including the salamander it stands out due to the intensity of its colours.

Freshwater turtles: Two species of native turtle, the pond and stream turtles, coexist in the ponds, though in small populations and they are greatly threatened by the expansion of the aggressive Florida red-eared slider turtle.

Flora and vegetation

Shore trees: Alder, willow, white and ash trees surround the ponds and provide refuge for their fauna, especially for the more than a hundred species of birds that have been recorded.

Reeds and bulrushes: In its shelter and emerging on the surface of the water, the reed, the bulrush together with the irises complete a rich vegetation mosaic.