Attractions and Places To See around La Joyosa - Top 20

La Balsa de Larralde (also called balsa de Torre Medina) is an artificial wetland of high ecological value protected as a "Singular Wetland" by the Government of Aragon. It is located next to the Torre Medina neighborhood, in the rural district of Garrapinillos, within the municipality of Zaragoza, 🛠️ Origin and history Old quarry: It originated more than 200 years ago as a clay extraction site for building the nearby Imperial Canal of Aragon. Humidal birth: When the subsoil was perforated, the water table was reached and the excavation was permanently flooded with water. Environmental recovery: After decades of abandonment serving as an uncontrolled landfill, it was recovered from 1995 thanks to the Hydrographic Confederation of the Ebro (CHE) and the Naturalist Association of Aragon (ANSAR). 🌿 Ecological characteristics Extension: It has a protected area of about 4 hectares. Inverted water cycle: Being mainly fed by groundwater influenced by the irrigation of the Imperial Canal, it has more water in summer and spring than in winter, unlike most Mediterranean wetlands. Biodiversity refuge: It is surrounded by abundant riparian vegetation (reeds, cattails, poplars, and elms) that serves as a habitat and breeding ground for about 100 species of aquatic birds such as coots, moorhens, and ducks. 🚶 Visit and equipment It is a space open to the public, ideal for hiking and environmental education. The surroundings have: A perimeter path with wooden planks and walkways. A covered viewpoint-observatory for spotting birds without disturbing them. Interpretive panels explaining the local fauna and flora. (Note: As a local curiosity, it stands out for being the only protected wetland in Zaragoza that can be reached directly by public bus)

For as long as the locals can remember, this field has always had an acacia tree that provided shade during agricultural work. This one is a descendant of a previous tree that was cut down in 1956. In 2004, its total height was 15 meters.

The Larralde raft is worth seeing, but not the rest.

Architecturally, it's stunning, but we couldn't find a way to follow the canal without getting our feet wet. In the end, we crossed the Jalón River under the canal and then rejoined it. The question remains whether we could have crossed the canal walls on foot. On the left side, there was an open metal gate (we were already on the right side), but on the other side of the Jalón River, we saw another metal gate locked with a padlock.

A few beautiful kilometers along the riverbank, but keep in mind: - This is an area, especially the one closest to Utebo, where many people walk or cycle. The path is narrow. Going slowly is the best way to enjoy it and for others to enjoy it too. - When the Ebro rises, some sections of this path can flood, making it untraversable. If it's flood season, it's best to avoid it, even if there's a way across. - In the area of the poplar grove closest to the Barca de Sobradiel, landslides have occurred along the banks as the Ebro rises. Always pay attention to the terrain in this area because sometimes cracks or holes are partially hidden by vegetation.

A very fun trail near the Juslibol swamps. Not recommended during the rainy season, as it floods easily.

Wikipedia The Jalón River Aqueduct, also known as the Grisén or Jalón Walls or El Caracol, is the most representative work of the construction of the Imperial Canal of Aragon, built in the 18th century. This aqueduct is located in the natural setting of El Caracol, between the municipalities of Alagón and Grisén, about 25 kilometers from the city of Zaragoza. The objective of this work was to cross the greatest obstacle found in the layout of the canal, the Jalón River. Initially, the creation of a large siphon beneath the waters of the Jalón was proposed, but finally the layout of the canal twists towards the Jalón Valley to face the river perpendicularly. A route of more than 2 kilometers in total length begins, of which 1,380 meters run between stone walls.

Nice stretch to enjoy along the path, sometimes covered by trees and other times more uncovered, which brings us closer to the bank of the Ebro, but without any technical difficulty.