Lagunas de Laguardia
The, ) are a wetland complex near Laguardia, Álava, Basque Country, Spain. Three of the lakes are endorheic seasonal lakes, while the fourth is actually a reservoir built at the site of a former wet area. The wetlands were declared a protected biotope by the Basque Government in 1995, they have also been designated a Ramsar wetland and a Natura 2000 site. In 2023 it was reclassified as a nature reserve.
Flora and fauna
The margins of the Prao de la Paúl reservoir are covered by helophytes and reeds. There are some hydrophytes present, but their extent has been reduced due to the presence of invasive animal species. The flora of the endorheic lakes is characterized by its resistance to water level changes, with three species present: Ruppia cirrhosa, Ruppia drepanensis and Chara vulgaris.When the Prao de la Paúl reservoir was filled, signal crayfish were introduced by the authorities, but this population has probably died off. The Louisiana crawfish was illegally introduced around 1993, it has been deemed an invasive species due to its uncontrollable growth and damage to the local flora. Prao de la Paúl is home to the only fish population of the wetlands, consisting of introduced Eurasian carps and goldfish.
Several amphibian species are present in the lakes, including seven types of frog and the marbled newt. The observed reptile species include Psammodromus algirus, the ocellated lizard, the ladder snake and Malpolon monspessulanus. Additionally, up to 118 different bird species have been observed within a one-year period. The nesting bird species are the little grebe, the common pochard, the water rail, the common moorhen, the Eurasian coot and the mallard.