Useful links about Doņana
Doņana can be a
confusing place for new arrivals, but a lot of very useful information is on
the web (much of it only available in Spanish). The modern meaning of Doņana
usually applies to the area of marshes found in the delta of the
Most of what is left is
protected within Doņana
National Park (54,000 ha) and Doņana
Natural Park (53,835 ha), both now administered by the Andalusian
government. Most of Doņana is also protected as a World Heritage site and Ramsar site.
Another protected area, the Brazo del Este
Natural Landscape (1,653 ha) is also found within the delta. Many of the best bird-watching
areas are only accessible with a good book and a hired car or guide. July to September
are the worst months to visit Doņana. The main visitor centres for the National
Park are well sign-posted from the El Rocío-Matalascaņas
road. The José Antonio Valverde visitor centre is excellent
for bird-watching but is rather isolated and receives few visitors. The route to
get there includes many kilometres of dirt tracks, but is sign-posted on the
main road southwards from Puebla del Río. Excellent bird-watching is also available at Veta la Palma with the
Part of the
National Park itself is protected as a Biological
Reserve, which is administered principally by the Doņana Biological Station (CSIC, under the
Ministry of Science and Technology). The station is responsible for the monitoring
programme within the park, for national bird ringing/banding
programmes and for coordinating research activity in the Doņana area. Anyone
wishing to carry out research in Doņana should contact the stations office
for research coordination.
Following the well known spill of toxic mine waste
from Aznalcollár in April 1998, the area of the
A great deal of information about Doņana is available
in English in the following book online: Doņana, Water
and Biosphere.
Andy Green. June 2008.