Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
Two coastal lagoons which have been transformed for salt extraction. There is a narrow belt of reed (
Phragmites) and halophytic vegetation.
The site is important for breeding, wintering and passage waterbirds. The site acts as an important refuge when there is hunting in the El Hondo (215) and Santa Pola (216) IBAs.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Threats include building construction, water pollution and disturbance from the saltworks and from tourists. A management plan for the Natural Park has existed since 1995.
National High
International High3,755 ha of IBA covered by Natural Park (Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja, 3,755 ha). 3,700 ha of IBA covered by Ramsar Site (Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja, 3,700 ha). 2,100 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Salinas de la Mata y Torrevieja, 2,100 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Mata and Torrevieja lagoons (Spain). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/mata-and-torrevieja-lagoons-iba-spain on 23/12/2024.
