Laguna de la Marcela

Laguna de la Marcela is a seasonal, brackish lake in the municipality of Campillos, in the province of Málaga, Andalusia. Sitting at roughly 480 metres above sea level, it is the southernmost water body in the Lagunas de Campillos complex, which also includes Laguna Dulce, Salada, Cerero, Camuñas and Capacete — all protected within the Lagunas de Campillos Natural Reserve.

How did Laguna de la Marcela form?

The lake is endorheic, meaning it has no outlet to the sea: water accumulates and evaporates depending on that year's rainfall. Lakes of this kind in the region owe their origin to karst processes affecting Triassic evaporite rocks, common throughout this part of Andalusia. As a result, the water in La Marcela is calcium-sulphate in composition, and its salinity shifts with the seasons, rising noticeably during dry months as water levels drop.

What does the surrounding landscape look like?

Laguna de la Marcela occupies a shallow, rounded depression with gently sloping shores. It lies southeast of Laguna de Capacete, surrounded by rolling hills with more pronounced gradients than the terrain immediately around the lake itself. The shoreline supports rushes, reeds and other marsh vegetation typical of inland saline lakes in the area. Farmland reaches almost to the water's edge, a pattern common across the whole Lagunas de Campillos complex.

What birds can be seen at the lake?

Because of its variable salinity and seasonal water levels, La Marcela and the other lakes in the Campillos complex are an important stop for waterbirds and waders. Species recorded here include flamingos, storks, spoonbills, wigeons and black-headed gulls. Their presence is linked to the small aquatic organisms that thrive in these brackish waters, as well as to the proximity of the other lakes in the complex, between which birds move freely depending on conditions.

Is it worth visiting?

Laguna de la Marcela is not a standalone tourist attraction in the usual sense — its interest lies in being part of the broader lake system protected as the Lagunas de Campillos Natural Reserve. For anyone interested in birdwatching or in the landscape of Andalusia's endorheic salt lakes, it is one of several points worth noting while exploring the complex, alongside the larger and more accessible lakes in the same area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Laguna de la Marcela located? In the municipality of Campillos, Málaga province, at about 480 metres above sea level, southeast of Laguna de Capacete.

Is the lake part of a protected area? Yes, it belongs to the Lagunas de Campillos Natural Reserve, which covers several endorheic lakes within the municipality.

What birds can be seen around the lake? The most commonly recorded species are flamingos, storks, spoonbills, wigeons and black-headed gulls, though the exact mix varies with the season and water level.

Is the water fresh or salty? The water is calcium-sulphate in composition and its salinity varies with rainfall and season, since the lake has no permanent outlet.