‘Charco Maravilha’ is a small, temporary body of water situated in Parque da Cidade, fed by rainfall, surface runoff and, possibly, the shallow water table. Its hydrological regime is distinctly temporary and variable, depending on seasonal weather conditions.
The name ‘Charco Maravilha’ comes from the discovery in this pond in the 2000s of the greatest diversity of dragonfly species known in Porto, with 12 species, including the rare species Aeshna affinis, Brachytron pratense and Lestes barbarus.
This body of water is currently home to a number of amphibian species of high conservation importance, such as the western spadefoot (Pelobates cultripes), the palmate newt (Lissotriton helveticus) and the Iberian painted frog (Discoglossus galganoi). In terms of flora, one notable species is the cyclamine-flowered daffodil (Narcissus cyclamineus), a vulnerable daffodil protected by law.
In addition to conserving biodiversity, the pond fulfils other ecological functions, such as regulating the water cycle, improving water quality, carbon sequestration and temperature regulation.
This pond belongs to a network of water bodies interventions carried out by the Municipality, in partnership with CIIMAR (Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research). The main objectives of this operations are to increase knowledge of the city’s wetlands, mapping, biological inventory and characterisation, with a view to adopting conservation and restoration measures and creating new water bodies.
