Fuente de Piedra – Malaga

Fuente de Piedra in Malaga province located north in Andalucia 19km from Antequera. The Laguna de Fuente de Piedra, a famous beautiful lagoon. The largest natural lake in the Iberian Peninsula at 2.5km wide and 6.5km long, it is a haven for birds with over 170 different species recorded here.

Local information

Ayuntamiento de Fuente de Piedra
C/ Ancha, 9 29520 Fuente de Piedra (Malaga)
Telephone: 952-735-016
http://www.fuentedepiedra.es/


Residents 2400	Health Clinic	Bars, shops, restaurants	Schools	Municipal pool	Beach 1 h

Golf nearby	Antequera 20km Malaga 65km Granada 110km Seville 145km	Bus and train services	Malaga airport 65Km	Granada airport 110Km	Seville airport 145Km

Gallery

Main information

Apart from its abundant aquatic birds, Fuente de Piedra Lagoon in Malaga which is located in the centre of Andalucia, Malaga province, is well known for its flamingo population, the second largest colony of these birds in Europe after the French Camargue region and the only inland site on the continent where they breed.

In spring flamingos flock here in their thousands to reproduce, attracted by the water’s high salt content and the fact that it is shallow. Although in winter the lake fills up and covers around 15km2, it is seasonal, so it virtually dries out in summer. During times of scarcity, the flamingos may go as far as the Donana National Park to find food.

During Roman times, salt was extracted here and flamingos were hunted for their tongues, considered to be a delicacy. In the early 19th century people believed that the lake water had medicinal qualities, so the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra in Malaga province was not allowed to dry out completely, unlike other wetland areas in Spain.

In the 1930s a salt company that owned the lake undertook a campaign to reduce the flamingo population, which was threatening their salt production. Luckily, the lake’s ecological value was publicised and it became a magnet for birdwatchers and naturalists. In 1988 it was a declared a zone of special interest for birds (Zepa). The protected area covers 8,543 ha.

The best places to see the lake include the viewpoint by the visitors’ centre, the Mirador de Cerro del Palo, and anywhere along the footpath Sendero de la Vicaria. Fuente de Piedra Lagoon in Malaga is one of the well worthy places to visit in Malaga Province.