Tierra de Caballeros y Tablas de Daimiel

Tablas de Daimiel is one of the most important natural heritage areas in La Mancha, where the characteristic yellow, ochre and reddish tones of the dry, barren plains are broken down into a mixture of greenish tones upon entering the wetland area. 

The Park currently covers an area of 2,364 hectares spanning the municipalities of Daimiel and Villarrubia de los Ojos, primarily. Located at an altitude of 606 metres above sea level, just south of the central zone of the Iberian Peninsula, the wetlands are surrounded by one of the most extensive plains in Spain: the Plains of La Mancha.

Traditionally considered one of the richest and most highly representative ecosystems of Iberian nature, it has been a wildlife paradise and the perfect refuge for numerous species, as well as a shelter for plant species that are highly characteristic of the plateaus of La Mancha.

What makes the wetlands of La Mancha unique is that they are the ecological result of interconnections between surface and underground water systems. On the one hand, there is the hydrological network of the headwaters of the Lower Guadiana River, with its confluences (the place where a tributary joins the main river) and overflows: the Riánsares with the Gigüela or Cigüela (Taray lake), the Ánimas River with the Záncara (the Muleteros reservoir), the Gigüela with the Záncara (Junta de los Ríos), and the Gigüela with the Guadiana (Tablas de Daimiel). These overflow and flooding areas are unique on the Iberian Peninsula. Moreover, in this area the phenomenon of the Ojos del Guadiana used to exist (although unfortunately this is not so anymore), which were overflow areas from Aquifer 23. Thus, the Guadiana River, with fresh water from the aquifer, mixed with the Gigüela, which was loaded with salt from the saltpetre lands through which it runs.

In this unique association, the Guadiana played the main role in supplying water to Tablas de Daimiel. It was even more important in the summer, when the Gigüela riverbed dried up and the Guadiana made up for this deficiency with its contributions, thereby ensuring a constant supply of water to Tablas. Nowadays, the main sources of water to Tablas de Daimiel come from the Gigüela River and transfers from the Tagus River which is almost regularly channelled to the National Park.

This type of system, composed of lakes, wetlands and overflow areas in the midst of arid zones, acts as an authentic regulator of the phreatic strata levels on the planet, controlling natural flooding and drying up of rivers, maintaining the balance of the world fish population and providing shelter for a varied wildlife population that feeds on its wide-ranging plant life.

Flora
Among the plants at the Park, Saw-sedge is noteworthy, as Las Tablas is the largest Saw-sedge habitat in Western Europe.  The survival of Saw-sedge is highly endangered as a result of the drop in the water quality and its original habitats have been reduced by other, less demanding, marsh plants such as giant reeds.

Other common plants that can easily be seen and studied are cat’s-tails, rushes and sedges, all in or near the edges of the water, forming compact masses that animals use for food and shelter. However, the most delicate vegetation, upon which most of the Anatidae are dependent, is that which composes what is commonly called the submerged prairie. These plants, which are generically known as pondweeds, line the bottom of the flooded lands and need transparent waters that allow light to filter through. Therefore they are highly sensitive to pollution.

In addition to the typical oak tree species that can be seen in pasturelands on nearby farms, another tree species that is worth mentioning is the characteristic African Tamarisk, which grows into interesting shapes on the most-visited islands in the park..

Fauna
Over 120 bird species nest here, although many more use the Park at one time or another during their annual cycle; in other words, they use it to raise their young, spend the winter or rest during the migration season.

Because of their importance here, herons are noteworthy, such as the Purple Heron, and several Little Egret and other Egret species, Little Bitterns, Podiceps and Grebes. There are also Anatidae of all kinds, and a wide range of ducks, which are highly characteristic of this wetland area. The existing nest-building species are numerous, such as the different varieties of Goldeneye ducks or the Red-crested Pochard, which is the symbol of Las Tablas, as this area is its main breeding area in the central peninsula, or species that spend the winter here, such as the Northern Shoveler and the Common Teal.

In addition to the above-mentioned species, it is a privilege to see the extremely rare Marbled Duck and to enjoy watching the abundant flocks of Common Cranes during the winter, as they use the park as a resting area after feeding in the neighbouring fields during the day. There are abundant Eurasian Coots, Common Moorhens, Snipes, Avocets, Black-winged Stilts and Charadius, to name just a few. Gulls and Harriers are also present, along with an equally wide-ranging community of small birds, like Kingfishers, Reed Buntings and Bearded Reedlings.

Although birds are the most relevant fauna group in this area, other groups are also worth noting, such as fish. They have long been ignored and when they were mentioned, reference was usually made to non-native species such as the carp, and other species that are even counterproductive, like pike, which fortunately have now been eradicated. Aquatic vertebrates worth mentioning include fish, such as the Common Carp, Gambusia, Leuciscus, the Rutilus Alburnoides and Spined Loach.

Noteworthy amphibians include the European tree frog and the Iberian painted frog, and among the reptile species, the Montpellier Snake, Ocellated Lizard and European pond terrapin. Common mammals include the otter, in particular, but in land habitats, hares, rabbits, wild boars, foxes, weasels and badgers, to name a few, can also be found.

There are three different itineraries inside the National Park, which are described below. The visit is carried out on foot, and all the paths are easily accessible and low in difficulty, so they are recommended for people of all ages and physical conditions.

When to visit the park?
The best seasons during which to enjoy the Tablas de Daimiel National Park are spring, when the flora and fauna in full splendour, and winter, coinciding with the “wintering of the birds”.  However, any time of year is perfect for discovering the singularities and attractions that make a visit to the Park a unique experience in contact with nature. It is important to choose the right time of day to visit, as the early morning hours and late afternoon are the best times to observe the wildlife. This recommendation is especially important during the summer, when one should avoid being out during the central hours of the day, when the heat is intense.

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