Top 15 Natural Monuments around Rivas-Vaciamadrid

The Campillo Lagoon is located in Rivas Vaciamadrid, within the Southeast Regional Park, about 20 km from Madrid. It is a protected natural area, ideal for peaceful walks and outdoor activities. Origin: Artificial, formed in the 1960s and 70s after the extraction of aggregates in the Jarama River basin. Water from the aquifer filled the excavations and over time became a wetland with great biodiversity.

For the beautiful surroundings and landscape just a stone's throw from Madrid.

A beautiful lagoon to visit and spot seagulls, ducks and various birds. Highly recommended 👌

The Campillo lagoon is located in the Southeast Regional Park, in the Spanish municipality of Rivas-Vaciamadrid, in the Community of Madrid. The origin of this lagoon is due to the old exploitation of aggregates (gravel) that during the 1960s and 1970s was carried out in the Jarama River basin: it was excavated below the water table and when the activity ceased and the This space has emerged around 4 kilometers in diameter and has a surface area of 35 hectares. After El Porcal, it is the largest lagoon in the Southeast Regional Park.

The Europa Park in Torrejon de Ardoz, with its more than 230,000 m2 surface area, is the largest green area in the city and one of the parks with the greatest tourist attraction in the Community of Madrid. In addition to its ecological value, Parque Europa stands out for housing representations of some of the most important and well-known European monuments. Without leaving the park, it is possible to enjoy a European-inspired walk and come into contact with architectural and cultural works of art from the different European capitals represented. Without a doubt, Parque Europa is a place that offers top-level tourist interest for all tourists who visit the Madrid region.

The plant cover that adorns the steep earthy slopes of the Jarama Valley is an exhibition of ingenious botanical adaptations to survive in the gypsum aljezares characteristic of the fertile plains of southeastern Madrid. The esparto grass forms large clumps of long, smooth leaves with a very dense and closed stump that retains moisture inside. The austere jabuna has a woody bearing, the stems are very fine and it does not exhibit bright colors that require high energy consumption, except in the flowering period. Another common plant of the cuts is the ontina or mugwort, used in popular medicine as an antidiabetic, vermifuge and invigorating, it develops thorns and discreet colors to avoid excessive perspiration. One of the most striking plants is the reseda, which has long, twisted stems. There are also thyme, scaly rosemary and harmaga, which defend themselves from the xerophytic environment with a reduced foliar surface and scaly leaves.

The Southeast Regional Park covers an area of 31,550 hectares in 16 municipalities of Madrid populations in constant expansion in the southeast of the capital, accentuating the peri-urban nature of the protected space, located in one of the most populated and industrialized areas of the Community of Madrid . A rich natural heritage of lagoons, wetlands, riverside forests, river groves and steppe hills make up a valuable set of ecosystems that are home to a unique flora and fauna in an environment of housing estates, roads, industrial farms and railways. A succession of strong contrasts that contribute to further elevate the environmental quality of the territory and the need to conserve these valuable wildlife refuges on the outskirts of the big city.

The El Campillo lagoon fits between the Rivas cliffs and the Jarama riverbed and is one of the 123 most important wetlands in the park. It is considered a Natural Reserve Zone and a Sensitive Ecological Zone, which is why its naturalization has been promoted, smoothing slopes, forming banks, creating islets and birdlife observatories, etc.