Life Canal de Castilla

Importance

The ponds adjacent to the Canal de Castilla are a singular ecosystem of high ecological value due to the fauna and flora that take refuge here. The presence of these wetland areas in the midst of the boundless plains of Tierra de Campos enhances the diversity and structure of this steppe landscape.

The origin of the wetland areas along the Canal is directly related with the construction of the waterway. The primary source of the ponds is water filtration from the Canal and direct inflow of surface water from small dry bed streams and irrigation canals that are blocked by the bank of the Canal. Water accumulates in areas in which an impermeable substrate impedes drainage.

There are about thirty of these wetlands that vary in their water supply and with the seasons, originating ecosystems that change dramatically over the course of the year and from one year to another. Their extension ranges from little more than an acre to almost 50 acres (0.5-20 hectares). Most of them are no more than a meter deep when the water level is at its highest.