User:OI-1O-x.andres

Salburua`s wetland

Salburua`s wetlands contains two major gaps: Betoño and Arkaute. It is canconsidered the most important wetland in the plains of Alava, being a good example of the discharge system of aquifers in the basin of the Ebro.

Its origin is the emergence of the Quaternary aquifer. However, in the half of the twentieth century there was a drainage work that almost wiped out and until the 1990's it could not be regenerated. In July 2002, it is included as a Ramsar site, being a wetland of international importance for the conservation of aquatic species. Arkaute lagoon also serves as a protection against floods by acting as gap window films of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Among its ecological values ​​may be worth indicate the importance of their flora, with a mass of well-preserved Carex riparia and other aquatic flora. Among invertebrates emphasizes the existence of carabid beetles in different species with at least two endemic types. Among the small mammals include the Mustela lutreola which is highly threatened. There is also a wide variety of amphibians. N Nowadays the greatest threat to these species is the incorporation by particular species of this unsuitable habitat that can end autoctonas species.

History os the rafts

Salburua wetlands existed for hundreds of years. However, the human hand influenced his disappearance. Already in 1857 it was proceeded to be dryed of the ponds in order to devote the land to agriculture. The land would be exploited by the farm Arkaute model. It was not until 1955 when the practice got draining of ponds. At this time the river channel got joy and widen the Canal de la Balsa, a small stream that ran through the former wetlands and that all water collected. To maximize space and agricultural use the oaks that surrounded the pond Arkaute were also cut down. Other problems added were generated with the construction of the Academy of Arkaute Errekabarri river or the construction of the Velodrome General Mola (the meadows of Salburua) in an area previously flooded. [under construction]