Gallocanta Lagoon hosts seasonal crane migration

The Gallocanta Lagoon, located between Zaragoza and Teruel, serves as a major migratory stop for common cranes. These birds, which breed in Northern Europe and Scandinavia, travel to the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa to spend the winter.

Migration activity typically begins in mid-October and continues through early March. The population peaks between mid-October and early December when birds arrive from the north, and again in February as they begin their return journey. In the 2023-2024 season, the Government of Aragon recorded over 104,000 cranes. A historical record was set on February 24, 2011, with 114,729 cranes observed in a single day.

The lagoon is a saline wetland recognized as a site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Visitors can observe the birds most effectively at sunrise, when they leave the lagoon to feed, and at sunset, when they return to the water to rest.