Plans de la Unilla natural area

This natural area is small with steppe characteristics. The Plans de la Unilla are located on the Almenar-Alguaire plateau and incorporate an endorheic basin of great interest in terms of its flora.

The Plans de la Unilla constitutes a modest sized natural area with steppe characteristics, situated on the Almenar-Alguaire plateau. They include an endorheic basin of great interest due to its flora; it is also of great interest because of the conservation of some species of steppe birds, among them the very rare black-bellied sandgrouse.

VIRTUAL TOUR

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  • KNOW THE PLACE

    In this space, the dominance of extensive dryland cereal crops provides a home to steppe birds of community interest that require a high degree of conservation.


    FLORA AND VEGETATION

    Extensive cereal crops occupy almost the entire space. All natural vegetation is restricted to a range of hills on the plateau, especially in the north of the area and the Clot de la Unilla; despite this lack of natural vegetation, the importance of that found in the latter area should be highlighted.

    Clot de la Unilla is an endorheic lagoon that is home to some salicornia communities with two habitats of community interest: the stagnant oligo-mesotrophic waters and Mediterranean seasonal pools and ponds.

    There are small amounts of French tamarisk and a very rare species of flora in Catalonia, Chara connivens.


    WILDLIFE

    Most of the wintering population of black-bellied sandgrouse are concentrated in its interior and in the surrounding area, although most can be found outside the protected area.

    Also residing outside but very close to the Space is a nesting colony of lesser kestrels. Species such as the little bustard, the western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), the calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra) and the Thekla's lark (Galerida theklae) are less prevalent.

    The last time the Clot de la Unilla was flooded (1997) up to 90 different bird species were spotted in and around the lagoon.

    The flood caused many different water birds to visit and the site became an important wintering location for a large number of birds, some of which are quite common species such as the mallard (Anas platyrynchos) and the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), which also began nesting there that same year, and the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus).

    Other rarer species that wintered here include the northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), the Eurasian teal (A. crecca), the common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), the pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata).

    Apart from the species mentioned above, nesting birds in the area include the black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) and the common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus).

  • VISIT US

    Remains of the Santa Maria Tower

    In the former district of Santa Maria d'Almenar, in the South-east of the municipality and at one end of the Ratera plain, near Almenara la Vella and Noguera Ribagorçana, are the remains of the Santa Maria Tower. This is an old building, with a renovated façade, which looks like a very old rural villa.

    CASA TONOT (Ethnological Museum) Almenar

    The museum is located in the old town, on the Main Street. It occupies a single space on the ground floor of the building. The aged appearance of the structure has been preserved, emphasizing its vaults, stone pillars, troughs and sinks.

    Its interior is divided into themed spaces where different activities are represented. You can see tools from the world of farming; and find out about the value and usefulness of each of the pieces exhibited.

    Some of the trades of the time, as well as a compilation of the daily life of the rural world, are also introduced.

    CASA JAN (Ethnological Museum) - Almenar

    The museum is located in a house dating from the early 20th century, in the old town, in the Plaça de la Vila. The museum encompasses everything pertaining to the traditional life of the people of those times, taking into account religion, customs, etc.

    Museums open on the first Sunday of each month from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m.

    You can also request an appointment by calling (+34) 973 770 013 or at cultura(ELIMINAR)@almenar.cat 

AGENDA

Observació del cel Diürn

Dia i hora: Diumenge 22 d'octubre de 2023, a les 10.30 hores. Punt de trobada: Sala de conferències de la Fira del Medi Ambient, de Tàrrega.