La Grajera Reservoir, lake in La Rioja, Spain
La Grajera Reservoir is a water storage facility built near Logroño in the 1880s to irrigate surrounding farmland. The water surface covers roughly 32 hectares and is ringed by reed beds, marsh vegetation, and natural shoreline plants that create distinct ecological zones.
The reservoir was constructed in 1883 to capture water from the Iregua River for irrigation and was enlarged in 1903. This early infrastructure enabled agricultural expansion in the region and fundamentally shaped the landscape around modern-day Logroño.
The name derives from the gray herons that inhabit the area and give it its character. Visitors can observe these birds daily along the shoreline paths where they fish and rest, making the wildlife central to how people experience the space.
The site has marked paths for walking and cycling, free parking, a restaurant, and rest areas for families. Swimming and motorized water activities are not permitted to protect the wildlife and habitat.
A bird hide with small viewing windows sits concealed along the shore for watching herons and cormorants drying their feathers in the sun without disturbing them. This specialized observation spot is often missed but offers close encounters with local bird species.
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