Embalse de Cubillas
The lake is situated 10 km north of Granada captial in the municipalities Albolote and Atarfe. The river Cubillas mainly ensures that the reservoir is filled and also owes its name to this. The dam was built in a shallow valley, in a river with many sediments, as a result of which the depth of the reservoir is decreasing more and more.
The length is about 2300m and the width is 800m. The maximum depth is about 20 meters. Recreational activities such as windsurfing, canoeing and jet skiing are permitted on this lake. A large picnic area has been created on the wooded waterfront (north bank) on the right side of the road, once you have passed the dam. In this area there is also a restaurant / bar overlooking the lake. It is wonderful to take pictures at this place, especially on a windless day and when the Sierra Nevada is covered with snow.
On the north / east side of the lake (Parque de Cubillas) is also a waterfall, which plunges its water into the reservoir, but is unfortunately only visible from the waterside. The southern shores of the lake are covered with poppies in the spring.
The Cubillas Reservoir is one of the main areas for bird watching in the province of Granada, as it serves as a transit station for migrations and nesting space for some species. It is usual to observe the large cormorant (Phalacrocorx carbo), the hoopoe (Upupa epops), the white wagtail (Motacilla alba), the mallard, the common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and the magpie (Pica pica).
