During my conference, we were able to tour el lago (the lake) Albufera and the surrounding nature preserve, Parc Natural de l'Albufera de València (Natural Park of the Albufera of Valencia). La Albufera is a lake that’s just south of the city. It was once part of the Balearic Sea, but over the years, has become separated by land.
Our tour guide, Nacho, showed us a reconstructed home that was traditional of the Valencian people who lived around the lake. It was a small white building, with simple decorations and wooden furniture inside. It was topped with a cross on the roof because people who were not Christian used to be heavily persecuted. The house was right alongside the lake, so lots of fish and eel nets were hung from the ceiling.
La Albufera used to be salty, but is now freshwater. The estuary areas surrounding the lake are great for growing rice, a crop that was brought to Spain by the Muslims from Africa and the Middle East. Another crop that was brought over to Valencia and is grown in the region is la chufa (tiger nut).
Of course, the ocean is a huge reason why people live in Valencia. It provides incredible economic advantages in terms of trade and the fishing industry. It's also important for transportation and tourism. The views are a nice plus for the residents, too!
