Parc Natural de s'Albufera des Grau, Nature reserve in Menorca, Spain
The Parque Natural de s'Albufera des Grau is a nature reserve on the northeastern coast of Menorca, combining a coastal lagoon, wetlands, and rocky shoreline. At its center lies a shallow lake separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land, surrounded by reeds and low scrubland.
During the 1970s, construction projects threatened to drain and develop much of the lagoon and surrounding wetlands. Protection came in 1995, stopping those plans and giving the land time to recover.
The park sits at the heart of a biosphere reserve covering the whole island of Menorca. Visitors can still see small fishing boats working the lagoon in ways that have changed little over the years.
The park has several marked trails leading through different zones, from the lakeside to the rocky coast, so it helps to pick a route before you start. A visitor center near the entrance offers maps and binoculars for watching birds from a distance.
The lagoon is one of the few places in the western Mediterranean where the rare aquatic plant Ruppia cirrhosa grows in large numbers. This plant forms dense underwater meadows that serve as food and shelter for waterbirds and fish.
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