Paraje Natural Municipal Molino del Agua

The Paraje Natural Municipal Molino del Agua protects a 17.23-hectare stretch of dunes facing La Mata beach, in Torrevieja. It was declared a protected area on 24 February 2006 by agreement of the regional government, and its value lies precisely in what looks, at first glance, like an ordinary strip of sand.

A corridor between two wetlands

The dune system preserves all four stages typical of this kind of landscape — embryonic, mobile, fossil and fixed dunes — and works as a natural corridor linking the Santa Pola salt marshes to the La Mata and Torrevieja lagoons. That ecological continuity is why the two areas end up connected for wildlife purposes, even though they are administratively separate parks.

Steppe and shoreline birds

Although not especially rich in waterfowl, the site holds species typical of steppe and sandy habitats, such as the stone curlew, the crested lark and the woodlark. Most notable is the Kentish plover, a protected species that nests directly in the sand of the more open areas, which is why visitors are asked to keep to the marked trails during the nesting season.

As a reminder of the historic landscape, the site includes a replica of the water mill that gave it its name. Access is free and open at all times, and it can be walked alongside a visit to the Torre de La Mata, a short distance away on the same stretch of coast.