Tablas de Daimiel National Park, National park in Ciudad Real Province, Spain
Tablas de Daimiel National Park is a wetland in Ciudad Real Province where the Guadiana and Ciguela rivers meet and form shallow pools, islands and winding channels. Wooden boardwalks cross the water and lead through reed beds, open lagoons and forested edges where birds nest and feed.
The Spanish government created the park in 1973 to protect one of the last large Mediterranean wetlands from drainage and farming. Decades of groundwater extraction had nearly dried the area completely by the late 20th century, prompting restoration efforts that continue today.
The name Tablas refers to the shallow flooded plains that appear when the rivers overflow during winter and spring months. Walking paths pass through areas where farmers once grazed livestock and harvested reeds for weaving baskets and roof thatching.
Three marked trails offer different perspectives: La Isla del Pan winds through dense reed beds, La Laguna Permanente circles open water, and La Torre de Prado Ancho climbs to an observation tower. Morning hours work best for birdwatching when waterfowl are most active and light favors photography.
When water levels drop, underground springs called Ojos del Guadiana become visible as dry craters that once fed the river year-round. Despite being the smallest national park in Spain, the reserve hosts more than 200 bird species within its wetland habitats.
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