Lantejuela Natural Reserve
East of Seville is this wetland reserve, comprising two saltwater lakes: Laguna de Calderón and Laguna de la Lantejuela. Until the mid-1960s, this wetland area covered an area of 300km² stretching between Écija and Osuna; today, only a fraction of this remains, including the 956ha of the Lantejuela reserve. Agricultural demands on the land are blamed for the drying up of this area, but efforts are being made to partly compensate for the damage by creating this reserve and restoring the Laguna de Ruiz Sánchez to the northeast.
As the lakes can dry up summer and in times of drought, it's worth visiting at other times of the year.
Access
The reserve is easily accessible from the A92 east of Seville towards Granada. At Osuna, take the A351 north to Écija. The Laguna de Calderón is on the left-hand side of the road about 15km from Osuna. A few kilometres after this lake is the turn-off for La Lantejuela village; look out for the Laguna de la Lantejuela on your left, 3km before you arrive in the village.
Flora
The lake shores are colonised by rushes, reeds, tamarisk and glasswort.
Fauna
The lakes have many waterfowl, including mallards, gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and red-crested pochards. Occasionally white-headed ducks have been sighted. Waders are common during migration periods, such as black-winged stilt, redshanks, black-tailed godwits and dunlins. Several species of raptors, like Montagu's harriers, marsh harriers, and buzzards, are here for some of the year.
Villages
La Lantejuela
