The sedimentary and geochemical evolution of Lake Estanya (NE Spain) documents arid conditions,
reflected by shallow water levels, high salinity and low organic productivity during lateglacial times, with
intensified aridity during the so-called Mystery Interval (17,500 – 14,500 cal. years BP), the Younger Dryas
(13,300 – 11,600 cal. years BP) and prior to the Holocene (11,600 – 9,400 cal. years BP). Higher water
availability characterized the last 9,400 years, as recorded by most Iberian marine and continental records.
The Estanya records demonstrate a high impact of suborbital global climate fluctuations in lake hydrology.
Increase in lake level and detrital sediment delivery during the last millenium also indicate changes in land
uses in the watershed since Medieval times