Marchica Lagoon

Marchica, also called Sebkha Bou Areq, is a lagoon of about 115 square kilometres separated from the Mediterranean by a sand bar some twenty-five kilometres long, with a single opening to the sea - one of the largest coastal lagoons in the western Mediterranean. It is shallow, brackish, and rich enough to support greater flamingo in numbers along with terns, waders, grebes and gulls; it is a Ramsar site and part of it is a designated biological reserve. Nador sits on the western shore and the lagoon was for decades heavily polluted by the city's untreated discharge; a large state-backed programme from around 2008 built treatment works, dredged and reopened the sea inlet to improve water exchange, and has been developing marinas, a corniche and resort projects around the shore. Water quality has improved measurably. The bird interest is on the quieter eastern and southern shores rather than in the city.

What's there

• A 115-square-kilometre lagoon - behind a twenty-five-kilometre sand bar.
• Flamingos and terns - on the quieter southern and eastern shores.
• A reopened sea inlet - dredged to improve water exchange with the Mediterranean.
• A long redevelopment - treatment works, marinas and a corniche around the city shore.

When to go

October to April for birds. Half a day.

Practical notes

The city shore is developed and busy; the birds are on the far side and need a car. Construction around the lagoon is ongoing in places. There are no hides. Nador is a long way from the main tourist routes.

Nearby

Cap des Trois Fourches is north; Melilla is on the coast beyond it.

Key facts