WHAT TO SEE – LAGOON GRANDE

To the southwest of Baeza, near the Guadalquivir river, Laguna Grande strikes with the usual landscape of the area, dominated by endless olive plantations. With its, 226 hectares (18 in its sheet of water) is the largest of the lagoons in the province of Jaén and has a rich fauna and flora, where the great diversity of aquatic birds stands out. The Laguna Grande does not have a natural origin but instead was crafted by man to store irrigation water. Today it no longer has an agricultural function and has now become one of the essential visits to Baeza, it’s not in vain it was declared a Natural Area in 1989, a Place of Community Importance, and a Site of Cultural Interest.

The visitor has a lot to see in this Laguna Grande, which is also close to the Olive Tree Culture Museum. The olive trees mix with the natural vegetation of the area: centuries-old olive trees, holm oaks… Around the water, in addition to the marshy vegetation of reeds, cattails, and reeds, the presence of tamarisks, poplars, ash trees, and brambles stand out, where they find shade for the visitor and shelter the fauna of the place. From the riverbank, the visitor can enjoy the many birds such as the common teal, mallard, or the common pochard, highlighting the fly bird for having a reduced distribution. There is also the one known as Laguna Chica, logically much smaller, with about five hectares of extension.

It is common for the residents of Baeza and other nearby municipalities to go to the Lagoon during recreation, to enjoy this unique environment. Visitors also have a great option for hiking or simply varying the type of tourism. Not everything in Baeza is monumental buildings and culture.