Lago de Banyoles. 20/12/02; Cataluña; 1,033 ha; 42°08'N 002°46'E. Protected Natural Area. The main part (999 ha) consists of the upstream freshwater lake adjacent to Banyoles town (15,000 inhabitants) and its forested water catchment basin. Within the site, the lake itself, the small marshes Lagunas del Vilar y de las Guixeres, and the inflowing rivers Castellana y de la Puda cover together 132 ha. The site includes also a separate part (34 ha) of the catchment of the Laguna de Espolla pool. It is one of the best examples of a karst catchment on the Iberian peninsula. The local sulphur, iron and carbon cycles support characteristic bacterial communities. A rich and diverse aquatic vegetation of permanent and temporary pools and the associated fauna contribute to the environmental importance of the site. The turtles Emys orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa and the fish Barbus meridionalis are of EC interest. Human activities include tourism and recreation in most of the wetland area, except a few inaccessible parts. Small-scale farming and livestock rearing takes place in the surroundings. Ramsar site no. 1257. Most recent RIS information: 2002.