Gypsum is a sedimentary rock formed by the chemical precipitation of salts dissolved in lacustrine environments with an arid climate in the Tertiary. Although it is a quite unusual rock in Europe, in Spain it is relatively common. As a result, Spain is the third largest producer of gypsum in the world. Remains of old gypsum-works can often be found in the surroundings of villages in the area. The gypsum, or ‘aljez’, was put into ovens to turn it into a building material that could be used to plaster walls and ceilings.
At Barrachina, the gypsum deposits are interbedded with other rocks, like limestone and clay, which creates a different kind of landscape depending on which beds outcrop on the surface. In this way, on gypsum soils, only a few adapted plant species survive. These are generally low shrubs and herbaceous plants that are called gypsophiles, such as restharrow (Ononis tridentata), rue (Peganum harmala), ruptureworts (Herniaria fruticosa) and wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum). In contrast, on limestone and clay soils, crop fields alternate with woodland containing oaks, junipers and pines.
- Access by car: it can be reached along a tarmac road (irregular surface). Alternatively, vehicles can be left next to the school in the village and you can follow a pleasant footpath to the river.
- Access for people with limited mobility: there are no infrastructures adapted for people with limited mobility.
- Legal protection: the lake is inside the Site of Community Importance ES2420121 called Gypsums of Barrachina and Cutanda.
- Seasonality: although it can be visited at any time of the year, in spring the vegetation is exuberant and the landscape fills with green.
- Recommendations, what to see and do: it is worth approaching the course of the River Pancrudo where you can see numerous large examples of pollarded poplars.
Rev. PAB: 08.05.23