The Ebre Delta (delta de l'Ebre) is the largest humid zone in Catalonia. With a surface area of 320 km2, it constitutes the most important natural aquatic habitat in the western Mediterranean after the Camarga Regional Park in France, and the second most important in Spain after the Doñana National Park.
A harmonious balance between the Delta's natural values and exploitation on the part of man has never been easy. The crucial biological role of nature, furthermore, contrasts sharply with the intense humanisation of a great part of the Delta and the no less considerable agricultural weight the land bears.
In order to harmonise this balance the Generalitat of Catalonia, by petition of the inhabitants of the borough of Deltebre, founded the Ebre Delta Nature Park (Parc Natural del Delta de l'Ebre) through a decree promulgated in 1983, further ratified and amplified by the Act 332/1986, of 23 February 1986. The law certified that the Ebre Delta was the primary humid zone in Catalonia, and that its importance on an international scale was recognised by specialised, scientific organisations. In effect, in 1962 the Delta had been included within a classification of Euro-african humid zones of international interest carried out by the Marine Bureau, and was placed in Category A (urgent priority).
The Ebre Delta Nature Park has a total surface area of 7,802 ha, of which 5,382 ha correspond to the Montsià county (right hemidelta), and 2,420 ha to the county of Baix Ebre (left hemidelta). The Park comprises the lagoons of les Olles, Canal Vell, el Garxal, l'Alfacada, la Platjola, la Tancada, l'Encanyissada, the islands of Buda, St. Antoni, Sapinya, the peninsulas of la Punta de la Banya (els Alfacs) and el Fangar, els Ullals de Baltasar and els Erms de Casablanca.
The Delta is of international importance for 8 of its plant species and 69 of its vertebrate fauna - mostly of the bird species. Its bird-life value is made manifest by the region's role as a breeding ground, with 95 nesting species, as well as an overwintering zone, or resting and feeding grounds for birds during the migratory season. The wide diversity of bird species in the Delta is also made evident with the almost 300 different species recorded and catalogued in the region, out of the 600 existing in Europe.
