Spain
Few travelers realize that Europe's largest wetland is found in Spain. At Doñana National Park in Huelva, Southern Spain, millions of migratory birds stop at this rich biodiverse wetland en route between Europe and Africa. Home to different ecosystems including marshland, moving dunes, and 19 miles of unspoiled white beaches, it’s also a refuge for threatened species such as the Iberian Lynx and Spanish imperial eagle. “Despite its high degree of protection and rich biodiversity, the park has been threatened for decades by industrial projects, land use, invasive species, and climate change,” shares Rocío Haro of Alandis Travel. In 2016, following a global campaign by the World Wildlife Fund, the Spanish government announced a ban on the dredging of the biodiversity-rich wetlands of Guadalquivir River, removing (for now) the most immediate threat to Doñana National Park.
Insider Tip: Learn more about what the El Acebuche breeding center at the Doñana National Park is doing to move the Iberian Lynx off the endangered species list. In 2021, 11 of 23 new cubs have been born there. There are just 1,111 lynx in Spain and Portugal.