The Community of Madrid has launched an intensive surveillance campaign in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park to prevent visitors from swimming in protected areas during the summer months. This initiative seeks to ensure the safety of park users and preserve the area's natural values.
Visitors are reminded that swimming is only permitted in five designated natural spots within the region: Las Presillas in Rascafría, Los Villares in Estremera, Playa del Alberche in Aldea del Fresno, and the areas of El Muro and Virgen de la Nueva in San Martín de Valdeiglesias. Regular checks are conducted at these authorized locations to verify water quality and ensure safe conditions for swimmers.
The bathing areas of El Muro and Virgen de la Nueva will have a daily surveillance and health assistance service from June 24 to September 10. This team, comprising professionals from SUMMA 112 and Cruz Roja (Red Cross), will have an increased presence on weekends to attend to any emergencies.
The Community has warned about the serious risks associated with swimming in unauthorized areas, including drowning, injuries, cuts, heatstroke, or burns. Furthermore, exposure to water in these locations can lead to infectious diseases caused by present microorganisms.
The swimming ban covers, among other areas, the entire upper course of the Manzanares River, from the Ventisquero de la Condesa to the Santillana Reservoir, in Manzanares El Real. This measure aims to promote ecological restoration and the conservation of the region's river ecosystems.
With the arrival of summer and the expected increase in visitors, forest rangers, the Guardia Civil, and local police will intensify surveillance in the most crowded points, particularly around the pools near La Pedriza, which attract a large number of swimmers.
The regional executive explained that initial controls will be informative, aiming to raise awareness among visitors about current regulations. However, sanctions will be imposed on those who violate these restrictions at a later stage.
Fines for swimming in unauthorized areas can range from 300 to 3,000 euros, depending on the severity of the infraction. During the previous summer, forest rangers processed approximately twenty reports for this offense.
