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During the first half of the 19th century, the river Ter used to flow out to sea when it reached L'Estartit. With the diversion of the last stretch of the river, a zone of marshes and fresh and saltwater ponds was created which are known today as the Ter Vell and which form one of the branches of the former river.
The area includes a shallow lagoon where fresh water combines with sea water, surrounded by rows of tamarisks. The marsh is almost completely occupied by an extensive reedbed and is only separated from the beaches of L'Estartit by a sandbar that is home to typical vegetation such as ryegrass, sea holly and European searocket. These waters and reedbeds provide shelter and food for a wide range of water birds, such as mallards, moorhens, coots, purple herons, grey herons and kingfishers. A bird of prey, the marsh harrier, also lives and breeds in this zone.
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The importance of the Ter Vell stems from the rich natural heritage of the area, due both to its vegetation and the species of birds that stop over in it, and its strategic position in the network of wetlands on the Catalan coast. The walks and fauna observatories make it easy to access the most interesting spots and prevent any undue impact on this fragile ecosystem.
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In this section of the lower Ter, Torroella de Montgrí Town Council is putting in place the LIFE project designed to recover the wetlands and aquatic environments of El Baix Ter which are the habitat of amphibians and European pond terrapins (Emys orbicularis). As a partner in this project, Caixa Catalunya Social Work acquired part of the area on which it has built a system of water purifying marshes and has carried out a number of ecological restoration activities |
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