The Bay of Cadiz Natural Park is located on the Atlantic side of the province. Fifty per cent of the surface area of San Fernando municipal district is within the Park. This Park is a protected area with a remarkable socio-economic and geographical situation, which makes it different from the other Natural Parks established in our province and possibly in Andalusia . This historical salt-making activities in this area, together with the action of the sea, wind and river sediments deposited over centuries in the estuary have produced some unusual landscape shapes both inside the area and in the zones bordering on the Park. The landscape is basically made up of beaches, boggy plains and salt marshes.

It was declared a Natural Park in 1989, a Special Protection Zone for Birds (ZEPA) in 1993 and Wetland of International Importance (RAMSAR) in 2002. The Park can be divided into three very different zones: the maritime zone, which extends from Punta de la Morena until Punta del Sur; the salt marshes, whether salt pans, dried up and natural; and the land zone, which is identified with the built-up bay.

The Bay of Cadiz Natural Park has lagoons, drainage complexes, sand dunes and pine trees declared to be Natural Reserves or Special Protection Zones. The Sancti-Petri Salt Marshes and those of the Isla del Trocadero are three examples of Natural Sites, as they are the only natural salt marshes that are preserved practically intact, together with Los Toruños Salt Marshes . Its location between the neighbouring Doñana National Park and the Straits of Gibraltar make it a key area in the migratory system of many water birds.

The characteristics of this salt mash makes it very attractive to numerous marine species. Many species are caught there to be used as bait, such as the blood worm, Diopatra napolitana worm, earthworm or sword razor shell, and others which feature in the local cuisine, such as shrimps, crabs, sea snails, crayfish, sea urchins, etc.

As far as the fish is concerned, the salt marshes have allowed fundamental fishing resources to be restored. There are many gilt head and two-banded sea breams, black-striped pipefish and anchovies. It is also home to species that are the pillars of traditional fishing in the estuaries: bass, spotted sea bass and sole.

The birds in the Bay of Cadiz is one of its main assets in terms of animals, as it is one of the most important areas in Europe for coastal birds, mainly due to its role as a wintering zone for the migratory species . Furthermore, this Park is close to the Doñana and Straits of Gibraltar enclaves.

There are a large number of birds that nest in the Bay: seagulls, pied avocets, plovers, terns or stilt birds. Migratory birds, which move in autumn and spring between the cold zones of the north and the warmer ones to the south, account for most of the species to be found here: marsh sandpipers, sanderlings, herons, gannets, cormorants, ducks, flamencos..... Its forests are home to birds such as blackbirds, robins, little owls or falcons.

As far as animals are concerned, special mention should be made of the chameleon, ocelated lizard, Montpellier snake, toad, field mouse, rabbit and beaver.

The landscape of the Bay of Cadiz Natural Park is different to what usually comes to mind when speaking about these types of areas. Far from being characterised by forests, mountains and rolling countryside, this setting is identified with horizontality : practically flat physical geography, intense river dynamics and predominance of the salt marsh.

The salt production marshes are the outstanding landscape resource that the visitor can enjoy in such a special Natural Park . These are clear examples of how humans have exploited the natural resources to be found in this environment. On the one hand, there are the natural salt marshes , that are landscapes that are vulnerable to human interventions. Nowadays, the marshes on the Los Toruños peninsula in El Puerto de Santa Maria , the Sancti-Petri marshes in Chiclana and those located on the Isla del Trocadero in Puerto Real still remain.

An outstanding example of the beaches is the Levante beach in El Puerto de Santa Maria due to its great ecological value. In San Fernando , there is the Camposoto beach and � La Cachucha � in Puerto Real, to name just some of the many beaches in the Bay of Cadiz.

On the other hand, the presence of ancient human settlements in the Bay, dating back to over 3,000 years, is the result of the important strategic and defensive value of these lands. The city of Cadiz is the oldest in the west, which was home to the ancient Phoenician and Roman civilisations to name just a few that have passed through here..

The ruins of the Hercules Temple , built in the 13th century, can be seen off the coast on Sancti-Petri Island.

The ruins of the ancient port l ocated in the Trocadero Channel, linked to the trade with the Indies , are also of great historical value. The

ancient fortifications that played a very important role during the War of Independence, when those of San Fernando and Cadiz withstood the siege, are also worth visiting.

The aqueduct discovered at the entrance to San Fernando , numerous defensive military structures and fortifications, such as the strongholds near to Sancti-Petri Channel, the Royal Careenage and the Urrutia Battery are outstanding examples of the rich architectural and historical heritage.

Divers can discover the numerous sunken galleons off the coasts that surround the Bay.

Special mention should be made of the traditional activities that are still alive in many of the towns in this Park, such as the items linked to the world of wine (butts, barrels, pipes, making the excellent wines of the wineries of Jerez, Sanlúcar, El Puerto and Chiclana), basket making, carpentry, embroidering, weaving and, of course, the long tradition of raising "estuary" fish that is famous for its quality and greatly sought after.

As far as the local cuisine is concerned, the salt extracted, together with coastal and shell fishing, have provided the most traditional ingredients in the Bay.

The estuary fish, king prawns , clams, shrimps, the local wines and typical desserts, such as tocino de cielo (made out of eggs yolks and syrup), enmelas (cake traditional eaten at Christmas) or nougat.

As far as the festivities are concerned, the highlight of the year is the Cadiz Carnival, held in February and declared to be of International Tourist Interest, as well as the Horse Fair in Jerez de la Frontera , held in May; without forgetting the Fair and Festivities in honour of Our Lady of El Carmen in municipal districts such as San Fernando and Puerto Real.

The companies that organise leisure activity tourism in the towns of this Natural Park offer the opportunity to enjoy many activities, such as hiking along the coast, bicycle routes, archery or horse riding through the pine trees and beaches. Great importance is given to all water sports. It is an ideal setting for diving, sailing, canoeing on the Bay, and other aquatic and sub-aquatic activities. ROUTES AND PATHS    Route los Puertos   Path Punta del Boquerón   PathSalina Tres Amigos-Río Arillo   Path Salina Dolores   Route Pinar de la Algaida

BAY OF CADIZ NATURAL PARK NATURE AND ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES | SPECIELITY | PLACE | PHOTO | Diving | Playas de Fuentebravía (El Puerto de | Sta María), La Caleta (Cádiz) y | Sancti Petri (Chiclana) | Mountain Biking | Corredor Verde 2 Bahías, El Toruño | (Puerto de Santa María),   | Multi-adventure | Punta del Boquerón, Batería de | Urrutia, Coto de la Isleta, Los | Toruños, Sancti-Petri, Pinar de La | Barrosa, Campano   | Boat Trips and | Yatchs to charter | Pantalán de la Magdalena | (San Fernando), Bahía de Cádiz., Isla | Verde, Isla del Trocadero, Isla | Vicario,Río San Pedro, Caño de | Sancti-Petri   | Canoening | Coto de la Isleta (El Puerto de Santa | María), Caño de Sancti Petri | (Chiclana), Río San Pedro.   | Horse Riding | Playas y Pinares de Sancti-Petri   | Routes on quad bike | Chiclana   | Hiking | Punta del Boquerón (San Fernando), | El Toruño (El Puerto de Santa María), | Punta del Boqueron.   | Clay pigeon shooting | Coto de la Isleta-Salina �La Tapa� | (El Puerto de Santa María)   | Sailing | Toda la Bahía de Cádiz

Path Playa de Levante y Marisma de los Toruños Organizing Companies of Activities of Adventure and Nature   BAY OF CADIZ NATURAL PARK INFORMATION OFFICE Address:C/ Coghen s/n Town: San Fernando Telephone: 956 590 405 / 956 590 971 Fax: 956 880 259 E-mail: pn.bahiacadiz@cma.junta-andalucia.es