Laguna Honda Natural Reserve

By Jo Williams

Located near the Laguna del Chinche Natural Reserve is the 65ha saltwater Laguna Honda, with an additional 220ha area around the lake shores. It usually dries up in summer, so it's best to visit it at other times of the year.

Access
The reserve is located about 48km southwest of Jaen. Take the A316 from Jaen towards Martos. At the village of Alcaudete take the N432 towards Cordoba. A few kilometres out of the village, just north of the N432, is the reserve.

The Honda and Chinche lakes are linked by a footpath and cycleway called the Vía Verde of the Olive Oil. This is a 120km-long former railway line joining the provincial capital of Jaen and Puente Genil in Cordoba province, which was used for transporting olive oil and was in operation until the mid-1980s. Four kilometres out of Alcaudete is the village's former train station and you can get onto the Vía Verde here. The lake is at Km 50,500 on the Vía Verde, where there is a viewpoint (mirador) of Laguna Honda.

Flora
On the lake shores are bulrushes, reedbeds and tamarisk.

Fauna
Moorhens, coots, mallards, purple gallinules and white-headed ducks are the most numerous birds at Laguna Honda.

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