The Natural Park of La Marjal de Pego-Oliva, located between the provinces of València and Alacant, covers an area of 1,290 hectares. It was declared a natural park in 1994. La Marjal de Pego-Oliva is one of the most significant areas of biodiversity in the Mediterranean and perhaps the wetland with the best quality within the Spanish Mediterranean. It is an old coastal lagoon (albufera).

It is surrounded by the mountain ranges of Mostalla, Migdia and Segària that form a horseshoe open towards the Mediterranean, in the centre of which is La Marjal. It is created thanks to the water of the rivers Bullent-Vedat (to the north) and Racons-Molinell (to the south) and the aquifers of Mostalla and Segària. A network of ancient ditches and canals crosses the site and is fed by the flow of underground water, which emerges in springs called ullals.

It should be noted that the balance between traditional rice cultivation and respect for the environment has been responsible for the survival of numerous plant and animal species of high biological interest. In addition, given its great importance, the marsh is also included in the Ramsar Convention (1971) for the global protection of wetlands. Furthermore, it is a special protection zone for birds (ZEPA zone) and it is also part of the European Union’s Natura 2000 network.

The excellent water conditions in La Marjal allow for the existence of populations of invertebrates such as shrimps and smooth clams. As for fish, the presence of Valencian toothcarp should be highlighted. Among the most characteristic reptiles, the European water turtle and several species of water snakes stand out. The birds are very well represented and constitute, in addition, one of the great treasures of La Marjal and one of the main reasons why it has been accepted in the Ramsar Convention. Numerous species should be highlighted: the purple swamphen, the little grebe, the squacco heron, the marbled duck, the black-winged stilt or the whiskered tern, among many others.