Tucked in the gentle plains near Antequera, this vast salt lagoon—the largest of its kind in Andalusia—spans over 1,300–1,400 hectares, stretching about 6–6.8 km long and 2.5–3 km wide. It’s a saline, endorheic lake fed by rain, runoff, and underground springs, with evaporation as its only outlet. The salinity—once exploited for salt from Roman times until the 1950s—remains a striking feature today, visible in crystallized salt flats when water levels recede.

Home to Europe’s Greatest Flamingo Colony

  • Megacolony hotspot: Hosts the largest breeding colony of greater flamingos on the Iberian Peninsula—and the second largest in Europe after the Camargue in France.
  • Flamingo surge: In 2025, heavy rainfall filled the lagoon, creating ideal conditions for the return of approximately 20,000 breeding pairs—some of the highest numbers recorded in decades.
  • Vital for avifauna: In addition to flamingos, this wetland supports over 170 bird species, including rare birds like black-winged stilts, avocets, and endangered species like the ferruginous duck.
  • Seasonal life cycle: Water levels fluctuate dramatically—dry spells can interrupt flamingo breeding and even halt it entirely, while wet cycles restore habitat and biodiversity.