Wetlands are among the most biodiverse yet endangered ecosystems on Earth. In the last century alone, around 70% of them have disappeared, with overexploitation of aquifers being the main threat in many cases.
The Doñana National Park lies on the right bank of the Guadalquivir River mouth, in southern Spain. It represents the most important wetland in Western Europe, covering 543 km2 (209.65 sq mi) of protected area. The park owes its importance both to its marshes, which are house to thousands of breeding and wintering waterbirds, and to its ponds, which host a large number of rare, endemic and endangered species.
