Marchamalo salt flats
The Marchamalo salt flats and the Las Amoladeras Beach are two small protected areas located at the southern tip of La Manga del Mar Menor, in the municipality of Cartagena in the Region of Murcia, near the Mar Menor and Cabo de Palos.
As protected sites, they are included among the so-called, holding the status of Natural park, SCI and SPA.
Plant species
Dune vegetation
Las Amoladeras Beach protects a small remnant of the former dune vegetation that once covered all of La Manga del Mar Menor, featuring species typical of these ecosystems such as sea trefoil (Lotus creticus), marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), yellow everlasting (Helichrysum stoechas), sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) and sea holly (Eryngium maritimum).In 2010, environmental restoration work was carried out at Las Amoladeras, including the removal of invasive species—mainly acacias and agaves—and the planting of numerous specimens of dune juniper (Juniperus turbinata), which had disappeared from the area ages ago, as well as mastic (Pistacia lentiscus). A few examples of large-fruited juniper (Juniperus macrocarpa) from older reforestations can also be found here.
Halophytic saltmarsh vegetation
In the vicinity of the Marchamalo salt flats, one finds halophytic vegetation typical of saltmarshes and saline depressions, such as glasswort (Salicornia fruticosa), sea lavender or shrubby seablight (Suaeda vera). Especially notable are a few specimens of Mar Menor asparagus, an endemic species of the lagoon area and critically endangered. In the Cabo de Palos area, the saltmarsh species almarjo (Halocnemum strobilaceum) was recorded in the early 20th century, though it is currently extinct in this region.Fauna
The Marchamalo salt flats are home to the endemic fish fartet (Aphanius iberus), native to the southeast and classified as endangered.They also support populations of various waterbirds, such as the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), the Audouin's gull (Larus audouinii), the little egret (Egretta garzetta), the black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus).