The Charca del Deseo (Pool of Desire) is located in the province of Palencia, near Fuentes de Nava and Frechilla, within the Retortillo Valley and associated with the route of the Canal de Castilla. Its origin is directly linked to the construction and operation of this large hydraulic work between the 18th and 19th centuries, which altered the natural drainage of the territory and favored the appearance of numerous wetlands.
It is a medium-sized lagoon with a seasonal to semi-permanent water level, which depends on both climatic conditions and the canal’s water regime. Its banks are covered with marsh vegetation, creating an area of great ecological interest within the open cereal-growing landscape of Tierra de Campos.
The Charca del Deseo (Pool of Desire) is part of the Lagunas del Canal de Castilla Special Protection Area (SPA), integrated into the Natura 2000 network, and is included in the conservation and management actions carried out within the framework of the LIFE project. Together with the nearby Toja del Pescador (Fisherman’s Pool), it forms a small lagoon system that acts as a refuge and feeding area for various species of waterfowl and marsh birds.
Its heritage value lies both in its natural importance and in its ability to explain how an infrastructure designed for navigation and irrigation ended up generating new ecosystems of high environmental value. For visitors, the Charca del Deseo (Pool of Desire) offers a complementary perspective on the Canal de Castilla as an ecological corridor and as a generator of unique landscapes in the heart of Tierra de Campos.
