We are going to propose five reasons to visit the Ebro delta, one of the most beautiful places on the coast of Tarragona. At the mouth of this river, which is the largest in Spain, sediments accumulate from both the Cantabrian mountain range as of the Pyrenees and the Iberian system.
They have formed an area of more than three hundred square kilometers that penetrates almost twenty-two into the Mediterranean Sea, creating different ecosystems, all of huge ecological value. In fact, by size, it is the third in that marine basin after the one of the Nile y the rhône. It is also the largest wetland in Catalonia and one of the oldest Europe, second only to that of the Camargue in France y Donana's, likewise, in Spain. For all this, we are going to give you five reasons to visit the Ebro delta.
For its incalculable ecological value
Encanyssada Lagoon
After everything we have just explained to you, you will understand the great ecological value of the Ebro delta. In 1962 it was already classified as an area of maximum international importance among the Euro-African wetlands. Twenty years later, the Council of Europe declared it area of european importance by the vegetation of their brackish environments. And in 1987 he was recognized as Special Protection Area for Birds.
But the recognitions that show us its enormous environmental importance do not end there. In 1993, he was added to the Ramsar Convention and, three years later, he got the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism. It is also listed as parque natural and finally, already in 2013, its Mediterranean ecosystems were declared Natural Reserve of the Biosphere.
Regarding the latter, the Ebro delta has mainly three. One of them is the riverside forest, with its typical vegetation formed by boulevards, alder groves and tamarisk trees. You can find it, for example, in the buddha island, which is located in the eastern part of the delta. With its thousand hectares, it is the largest in all of Catalonia.
The second is the one made up of its brackish areas, that is, lagoons with reedbeds and reedbeds. Between them, Las Ollas, Canal Viejo, Alfacada, Platjola and Encanyssada. Finally, the third landscape unit is made up of moving dunes. It is also the most sensitive in the area because it depends on its proximity to the sea, the winds and human action. Therefore, it requires special protection. They are areas in which a vegetation called psammophilia that adapts to these surfaces. Plants such as salty and cat's claw also flourish.
On the other hand, as we have told you, the Ebro delta is a very important area for birds. It has almost a hundred species that live in it. But, in total, counting those who arrive in their migrations, you can see in the delta a three hundred and sixty among which stand the flamingos.
For its beautiful beaches
Trabucador beach, one of the reasons to visit the Ebro delta
Another of the five reasons to visit the Ebro delta are its beautiful beaches. Perhaps the most famous and impressive is that of the Trabucador. It is an enormous arm of sand that separates the Mediterranean Sea from another interior that makes up the Alfaques Bay. It stands out for its golden sands and calm waters. But, above all, it offers you wonderful sunsets. Also, because it is close to the Lagoon of the Tancada, allows you to see numerous species of birds.
It is also spectacular Punta del Fangar beach. Due to its dimensions, it resembles a desert in the middle of the waters and remains quite wild. However, it is urbanized Ruimar beach, which has walkways through its beautiful dunes and all the services. It is also located next to the Lagoon of El Garxal.
It also offers various services Arenal Beach, which is very close to Blister and whose most beautiful part is the one that is next to the Bassa de les Olles lagoon. For its part, the one of the Delights is San Carlos de la Rapita and holds the blue flag. In addition, it is prepared for people with reduced mobility to access it.
Due to its activities and excursions, the third of the five reasons to visit the Ebro delta
Casa de Fusta, an authentic ornithological museum
There are many activities that you can do in the Ebro delta. Most of its beaches offer you the possibility of rent kayaks and other recreational boats. Also, you can rent bikes in places like Delta Town. This is one of the best ways to get around the area, both because it is not polluting and because of the number of routes you can take. In addition, you have the option to choose quadricycles. However, you can also rent a boat to hang out to tour the delta. This was the traditional means of transportation in the area and, as its name suggests, it consisted of a guided boat with a long oar or perch.
Another very common activity in the area is the therapy. . There are several companies that offer you this type of excursion, even with storytelling for children. But, if you want them to enjoy a lot, you can take them to the Deltebre Wake Park, where you can enjoy this water sport.
Of course, perhaps you prefer a quiet delta cruise. Also in this case you have several options. As an example, we will mention the one that takes you for the last ten miles to the very mouth. It is done in open boats with capacity for about one hundred people and lasts about ninety minutes.
On the other hand, you have several museums and visitor centers in the localities of the delta that will allow you to get to know this natural wonder better. Among them, we will mention the Ecomuseum of Deltebre; Delta Monature, which also organizes recreational and educational activities; he ecoherbes botanical garden or the rice museum Rafelet Molí, where you can learn how it is cultivated in an artisanal way in the waters of the delta. But, if you like ornithology, the right place for you is the museum House of Whip, which also has a viewpoint to see the birds.
For its beautiful towns
Suspension bridge of Amposta
Another of the five reasons to visit the Ebro delta that we show you are its wonderful locations. We will start by talking about Amposta, which is the most densely populated. In her you have to see her castle of the thirteenth century and the La Carrova and San Juan towers. We also recommend that you see churches such as those of La Asunción and San José. But, above all, the great symbol of Amposta is its suspension bridge, an engineering marvel built between 1915 and 1921 by José Eugenio Ribera.
We also advise you to visit San Carlos de la Rapita. Much of its architecture is neoclassical from the time of Carlos III. This is the case of the Plaza del Mercado, Los Porches, the Glorieta and the Las Alamedas fountain. You should also visit the guardiola tower, which dates from the XNUMXth century and is crowned by a statue of the Sacred Heart.
Meanwhile, in deltebre you have two of the museums that we referred to before: the interactive and modern one in Ebre Terra and the most classic Rafelet Molí. In Blister you cannot miss a walk through its charming port and in Sant Jaume d'Enveja You can visit the Las Barracas Interpretation Center, with several traditional houses in the area. Finally, Delta Town It stands out for its route of the Encanyssada viewpoints and for the remains of the tower of San Juan.
To enjoy its gastronomy
Pastissets from the Ebro delta
We finish the five reasons to visit the Ebro delta that we propose by talking about its exquisite gastronomy. How could it be otherwise, its main base is the local rice. You can enjoy it in different preparations. For example, seafood style, with vegetables, likewise, from the delta, black, peeled or with blue crab. The latter arrived in the Ebro not long ago as an invasive species, but it has become one of the favorite ingredients in its cuisine.
As for meat, the most consumed is, curiously, the duck one. It is also prepared with rice, although it is also cooked baked or magret. On the other hand, there is no shortage of excellent shellfish in the delta such as mussels, prawns, oysters or the native galley. And, regarding fish, it is consumed a lot Eel del Ebro, which is made smoked, in suc or as eel xapadillo. But it is also widely used bluefin tuna of l'Ametlla de Mar, sole and monkfish.
If, on the other hand, you prefer a sausage, we recommend the most typical: the rice black pudding. And, as samples of their confectionery, you can savor different kinds of Cokes, but also of Pastissets. As for the condonyat, it is quince made in the area and you can also taste almond or pistachio corquiñoles or a delicious cottage cheese with Perelló honey (also very famous). Finally, you can end your meal with a glass of rice liquor.
In conclusion, we have given you five reasons to visit the Ebro delta, but there are many others. For example, your excellent weather, with temperatures always moderate. But also its numerous hotels and rural houses that guarantee you a pleasant stay or, finally, its welcoming inhabitants, always ready to make you feel comfortable. All this not to mention the proximity of the historic and monumental village of Tortosa, which is barely eighteen kilometers away. Dare to know this natural wonder.