Embalse de Mequinenza

The Embalse de Mequinenza covers 7,540 hectares of water surface on the Ebro River, at the junction of the provinces of Zaragoza and Lleida. Known locally as the Sea of Aragon, it is the largest reservoir in the region: its elongated shape stretches roughly 110 kilometres along the old Ebro riverbed, reaching depths of over 60 metres and holding 1,530 cubic hectometres of water. The 79-metre-high dam rests on the limestone ridges of the Montenegre and La Huerta ranges. At dawn, the water mirrors the scrubland hills and ochre tones of the Aragonese steppe, producing a horizon line that resembles an inland sea.

Sport fishing defines the reservoir's international identity. In 1974, a German ichthyologist named Roland Lorkowsky crossed the Pyrenees with 32 juvenile wels catfish (Silurus glanis) from the Danube. Half a century later, Mequinenza catfish reach 2.5 metres in length and exceed 100 kilograms, making this one of Europe's most reputed catfish-fishing destinations. The most common techniques are spinning and pellet fishing from a boat, with catches made both from the shore and from vessels in areas of varying depth. Alongside the catfish, the waters hold common carp, largemouth bass, zander, barbel, bleak and tench. Every year, anglers from Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands travel to Mequinenza for trophy catches, and several local guides offer full-day boat fishing trips with equipment included.

The natural surroundings add value well beyond fishing. The Aiguabarreig area, where the Ebro, Segre and Cinca rivers meet — one of the largest river confluences in Europe — was declared a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) in 2001. Grey herons, great cormorants, mallards and common kingfishers inhabit the reed beds year-round. In winter the reservoir serves as a hibernation zone for migratory birds moving between the Monegros steppe and the Ebro Delta. On the surrounding slopes, low Mediterranean scrub shares the terrain with Aleppo pines, holm oaks and almond trees, and Iberian ibex, roe deer and otters can be spotted in quieter stretches of the reservoir.

For families, the reservoir offers a range of activities. Open-access beaches allow swimming in summer, when water temperatures hover around 22–24 °C. Kayaking and paddleboarding are common in coves sheltered from the cierzo wind, and shoreline paths on the northern bank connect to low- and moderate-difficulty hiking and mountain-biking routes. The town of Mequinenza, perched on a hill above the water, retains a 14th-century medieval castle overlooking the reservoir. The Mining History Museum, housed in a restored mine gallery, documents the lignite extraction that shaped the local economy until the mid-20th century. Local cuisine centres on regional produce: Aragonese lamb, Bajo Cinca olive oil and local wines, served in several village restaurants at reasonable prices.