A wetland surrounded by mountains which is located between the provinces of Valencia and Alicante and between the towns of Pego and Oliva. Within its 1,250 ha area we find an extensive zone of reed beds, rice fields and lagoons crossed by a network of rivers, irrigation canals and channels, which form a natural area of great wealth and productivity. Through these channels and irrigation canals, the Bullent and Racons rivers, which border the wetland to the north and the south, respectively, feed the entire wetland area. This circumstance facilitates rice cultivation (the “Bomba” variation is grown in the area) and maintains the Special Protection Zone, which covers the wetland, permanently flooded.
In these areas, which are partially or permanently flooded throughout the year, we can observe a great diversity of birds (whiskered tern, swan, ducks, herons, squacco, rails, coots, etc.), fish (with valuable endemic and protected species) and plants, such as cattails and yellow lilies. The excellent quality of the water in the Pego-Oliva Natural Park allows for the existence of the best-conserved underwater vegetation in all the Spanish wetlands. The area has extensive underwater meadows that play host and provide a habitat to a rich variety of fauna, including several protected, endangered or endemic species, such as the whiskered tern, the Valencia toothcarp, river prawn, the marbled teal, squacco heron, the horned owl, the European pond turtle and the blenny, among others.
Pego – Oliva Wetland Natural Park Office
Llavador, 5. Pego.
Tel. 966400251
Mobile: 679195227
email: parque_pegooliva@gva.es
Website: http://parquesnaturales.gva.es/web/indice.aspx?nodo=2988&idioma=C