The salt marshes of southern Spain’s Coto Doñana National Park seem alive, breathing, organic, brainlike, capillary. Photographer Héctor Garrido works for Spain’s Council for Scientific Research and has been flying over the Andalusian reserve for the last few years, documenting what he calls the earth’s “fractal harmony” and it’s hard to argue with the “armonia” part: These are some mighty beautiful marshlands.

The Doñana wetlands formed through the meanderings of the Guadalquivir River. Off the southwest coast, sandbars blocked the waves, eventually forming roving dunes, and helped create a barrier behind which the swamps and river delta grew. Today, Doñana is one of Europe’s most important wetlands and a paradise for birds. Indeed, March is when the geese and spoonbills return from northern Europe and Africa, respectively, and imperial eagles breed.

Garrido’s Doñana images recently won Spain’s National Award for Sustainable Journalism and he has a new book, Doñana Y Las Marismas (Doñana and the Marshes). There’s an English language accompaniment, but the book currently is only available in Europe. Until it makes its way to a bookstore near you, check out the GALLERY of Garrido’s aerial images.

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Learn more about Héctor Garrido’s photography (Spanish). See more on Garrido’s Doñana project (Spanish). Learn more about Coto Doñana National Park and how to visit it (English).

Photos ©Héctor Garrido. Used with permission.

Tagged as: aerial, europe