My name is Sofía and I come from Geneva. You’ve probably already come across my friend Emma somewhere around here. The city where I live has a lake, and the mountains coexist with very lively urban areas.

Is it like that here too? Are there areas of the city that feel hotter or cooler?

While living in Switzerland, I learned why some parts of a city are hotter than others.
Let me tell you a little about it…

Urban Heat Islands are a phenomenon in which some areas of cities experience higher temperatures than the surrounding rural areas. This happens for several reasons: the loss of natural spaces, the materials used in buildings and streets, the heat generated by human activities, and the specific climate and location of each city.

Bodies of water are places where water collects, such as rivers, lakes or ponds. In Madrid, some examples are the Manzanares River and the pond in El Retiro Park. Can you think of any others?

As water evaporates, it helps cool the environment and can influence the temperature and humidity of the city.

• Small bodies of water cool nearby areas, although their effect is usually more localised.

• Larger bodies of water help move heat and pollution, especially at night.

• Irregularly shaped water spaces can extend the cooling effect across more areas of the city.