Urdaibai: The Estuary Behind Gernika
Basque Country, Spain
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Urdaibai
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300
XP
+100 Spain
= 400 total
1 day
Urdaibai: The Estuary Behind Gernika
300 + 100 XP
Urdaibai is the estuary of the Oka behind Gernika — 22,452 hectares, about 10% of the whole of Biscay, made a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1984. It is the most important wetland in the Basque Country by size and condition and a major resting and wintering ground for migrating birds, which is why it was declared a Special Protection Area for birds in 1994 and added to the Ramsar list. It works as three bands running into each other: the mountain, the flats and marshes, and the coast with its cliffs, ports and beaches, and between them they hold the greatest diversity of landscape in the Basque Country.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Get to a hide on the marshes on a rising tide, which is when the waders come in off the flats
2
of 5
Work out the three bands — mountain, marsh and cliff coast — and how far apart they actually are
3
of 5
Go to the Urdaibai Bird Center at Gautegiz Arteaga for the ringing and the counts
4
of 5
Work out the scale: 22,452 hectares, about a tenth of Biscay, protected since 1984
5
of 5
Walk out to the cliffs and islands at the mouth, which are the seaward end of the same reserve
Get to a hide on the marshes on a rising tide, which is when the waders come in off the flats
Work out the three bands — mountain, marsh and cliff coast — and how far apart they actually are
Go to the Urdaibai Bird Center at Gautegiz Arteaga for the ringing and the counts
Work out the scale: 22,452 hectares, about a tenth of Biscay, protected since 1984
Walk out to the cliffs and islands at the mouth, which are the seaward end of the same reserve
Before you go
Urdaibai is a major resting and wintering ground for migrating birds.
Marsh paths flood on spring tides — check the tide before walking out. Much of the reserve is private farmland.
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About Basque Country
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XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
400 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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