The estuary of Villaviciosa has an almost triangular plant of about 8 km. of length and a width that oscillates between the 1.000 m. and the 200 m. according to the zone. Its formation dates back to the Würn glaciation, in the Upper Pleistocene, which caused the descent of the sea level. The rivers then excavated its channel modeling deep valleys in its final section. When the sea recovered its previous level it flooded the valleys and emerged what is known as submerged valley estuaries, type to which Villaviciosa belongs.
Where is the Villaviciosa estuary located?
The Villaciosa estuary is located on the central-eastern coast of Asturias, at a distance of about 30 kilometers to the this de Gijón The limits of the Protected Area practically coincide with the roads that run along the banks of the estuary, one connects the town of Villaviciosa with the small Puerto del Puntal and Tazones, and the other one brings us up the beach of Rodiles. Is an ecosystem of extraordinary plant and fauna richness.
Flora and fauna of the Villaviciosa estuary?
The majority group in the estuary is the acuatic birds, almost all of them migrating. The estuaries are places where they can find abundant food: fish, crustaceans, molluscs, worms, etc. All the estuaries of the Cantabrian coast play a crucial role for the bird migrating populations of Europe. Its presence is especially large in spring and autumn, scarce in summer and variable in winter. In Villaviciosa you can usually see three types of birds: waders, herons and swimmers. The Golden Plover, the Lapwing, the Common Snipe, the Great Plover, the Common Sandpiper…, the Little Egret, the Gray Heron…, the Mallard, the Frisian Mallard, the Shoveler… and a long etcetera.
On the other hand, in this space you can find up to four major types of natural resources: the beaches and dunes, the estuary, the cliffs and the coastal rasa.
Among the first, mention Rodiles Beach, which extends to the east of the mouth of the estuary with 1 km. long and 350.000 square meters of surface at low tide. The action of the wind creates in Rodiles a dune field that closes the beach to the south and where both mobile and fixed dunes can be recognized. To get there from Villaviciosa you have to take the N-632 road to Lastres, and take the VV-6, a detour to the left that takes us through the town of Selorio and leave behind the small beach of Misiego.
It should also be noted that in the cliffs of the nearby town of Tazones we find an important deposit of dinosaur footprints, ichnites, which constitute an extraordinary testimony of the passage of these animals over the swampy areas of the area. The "Asturian Jurassic" stretches along a coastal strip that runs from Cabo Torres, west of Gijón, to Ribadesella.
If you are looking for accommodation in this area we offer you some accommodation In the link, we recommend you take a look because there are very good rural houses and apartments in this area of Asturias.
Sleep in Villaviciosa
Rural houses and apartments in Villaviciosa, to enjoy a getaway near the beach. Discover the Region of the…
Information:
Reception and Interpretation Center of the Partial Natural Reserve of the Ría de Villaviciosa.
Carretera del Puntal (VV-5, km 4.1).
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
