Swamps of Madrid

Madrid reservoirs

The reservoirs are the strategic water reserves for supplying urban centers. Although they are artificial and built by humans, together with wetlands they form very valuable ecosystems. They are also known for their unique landscape beauty as they house valuable representations of flora and fauna. Aquatic birds in particular are known. The swamps of Madrid they are well known and frequently explored on a tourist basis.

Therefore, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you about all the characteristics and importance of the Madrid swamps.

Swamps of Madrid

Protected wetlands

Places such as swamps and reservoirs are linked to the aquatic environment. In addition, they are subject to high demographic pressure and all this has an impact on the maintenance of the quality of the waters and the associated ecosystems. For this reason, it has been decided to take various measures to protect these ecosystems. We know that the community of Madrid has 14 reservoirs and 23 protected wetlands which are included in the catalog of reservoirs and wetlands. These spaces are included as they have natural characteristics and contain a large amount of water for supply.

We know that a reservoir that goes artificial water which is stored and fed through rivers and streams. The waters are used for supply, irrigation, hydroelectric uses and others. There are high and middle basins in the rivers of the Madrid reservoirs that They are born from the mountains of Guadarrama and Somosierra. Many of these reservoirs are located in places not very frequented and this has promoted the development of ecosystems associated with water. These ecosystems have served as a refuge for a great variety of species. All the surroundings of the Madrid swamps have acquired peculiar and interesting characteristics. These interests have been united between the exploitation and agricultural and livestock activities.

Madrid wetlands catalog

Protected swamps of madrid

Let's see which are the 14 reservoirs that are included in the catalog of containers and protected wetlands of the community of Madrid:

  • Lozoya river basin: the Pinilla, Riosequillo, Puentes Viejas, El Villar and El Atazar reservoirs.
  • Guadalix river basin: the Pedrezuela reservoir.
  • Manzanares river basin: the Navacerrada, Santillana and El Pardo reservoirs.
  • Guadarrama river basin: the La Jarosa, Los Arroyos and Valmayor reservoirs.
  • Alberche river basin: the reservoirs of San Juan and Picadas.

The cataloged reservoirs have Management Plans except:

  • Santillana Reservoir, as it is included in the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park.
  • El Pardo Reservoir, as it is within the Monte del Pardo (belonging to National Heritage).
  • San Juan Reservoir, since its surface is divided between the Autonomous Communities of Madrid and Castilla-León.

Characteristics of protected reservoirs

Swamps of Madrid

We are now going to analyze what are the main characteristics as a summary of the Madrid swamps:

  • Pinilla reservoir: The municipalities of Lozoya and Pinilla del Valle are found and it has an area of ​​443 hectares.
  • Riosequillo Reservoir: It is located in the municipalities of Buitrago de Lozoya, Gargantilla del Lozoya and Garganta de los Montes and has an area of ​​322 hectares. It has a Natural Resources Management Plan for the Sierra del Guadarrama.
  • Puentes Viejas Reservoir: there are the municipalities of Piñuécar, Puentes Viejas, Buitrago de Lozoya Madarcos and Gascones. It has an area of ​​268 hectares.
  • El Villar reservoir: It is located in the municipalities of Puentes Viejas, Robledillo de la Jara and Berzosa de Lozoya. It has a surface of 136 hectares of water surface.
  • El Atazar reservoir: It is located in the municipalities of El Berrueco, Robledillo de la Jara, El Atazar, Cervera de Buitrago, Puentes Viejas and Patones. It has a surface of 1.055 hectares of water surface. Due to its large size, it is one of the most important marshes in Madrid.
  • Pedrezuela reservoir: it is located in the municipalities of Guadalix de la Sierra, Pedrezuela and Venturada. Its surface of water surface is 415 hectares. One of its protection figures is LIC Cuenca del Río Guadalix.
  • Embalse de Santillana: there are the municipalities of Manzanares El Real and Soto del Real. Its surface area of ​​water is 1.431 hectares and it has other protection figures such as the Manzanares River Basin SCI. It is also another of the most important marshes in Madrid due to its size and capacity to hold water.
  • Navacerrada Reservoir: it belongs to the municipalities of Navacerrada, Becerril de la Sierra and Collado Mediano. It has an area of ​​only 91 hectares. It is used to supply the nearby areas and some irrigation.
  • Jarosa Reservoir: the only municipality where it extends is in Guadarrama. It is one of the smallest marshes in Madrid with only 58 hectares of land. Despite this, it has a natural resource management plan belonging to the Sierra de Guadarrama.
  • El Pardo reservoir: the municipality of Madrid is located and has a surface area of ​​1.179 hectares. It is considered a ZEPA (special protection zone for birds). It also belongs to the national heritage.
  • Arroyos Reservoir: It belongs to the municipality of El Escorial since it is very small. It only has a surface area of ​​12 hectares of water.
  • Valmayor reservoir: It is located in the municipalities of El Escorial, Valdemorillo, Colmenarejo and Galapagar. It has an area of ​​water surface of 775 hectares of land. It is considered as a regional park of the middle course of the Guadarrama river and all its surroundings.
  • San Juan Reservoir: belongs to the municipalities of San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa. It has an area of ​​1.235 hectares, being one of the largest. It also has protection figures such as the ZEPA Encinares of the Alberche and Cofio rivers and the ZEC Cuencas of the Alberche and Cofio rivers. A ZEC is a special conservation area. This is due to its large amount of flora and fauna belonging to these places.
  • Pike reservoir: It belongs to the municipalities of Navas del Rey, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and Pelayos de la Presa. It has an area of ​​only 74 hectares of land. It is also a ZEPA and ZEC due to its large presence of migratory birds.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Madrid swamps and their main characteristics.


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