Nature reserves in Spain. National and natural parks of Spain. Monfrague National Park, Extremadura
Not everyone goes to Spain to visit an Amusement Park. There are people for whom communication with pristine, almost untouched nature is especially important.
This is a special class of travelers. Many of them started with backpacks, kayaks, and tents. But over the years, the opportunity has arisen to visit not only the forests and mountains of our own country, and we have gorgeous places, but also to see the whole world. Haven’t you at least once envied the host of the “In the Animal World” program, even as a child, sitting in front of the TV? Happens everywhere, sees everything, climbs into the jungle, then into the desert, then into the mountains!
Combine beach holiday with additional communication with wildlife in Spain you can.
Almost every city has a small oasis of nature - a forest, lake or waterfall, green valley or high hill. This is enough for most tourists. But not everyone. Avid nature lovers take a camera, a thermos with sandwiches, put on the most comfortable shoes and go to national parks and reserves.
There are nature reserves here that were practically created by nature itself, and man simply protected all this beauty from the destructive activity of his own kind, there are also parks specially created by man, where you can move from Spain to other countries, for example, to Africa.
Wildlife lovers so often dream of being in Africa, but not professionals, but simply tourists, are often stopped by various kinds of fears. Including before the need to get any vaccinations and take special care.
In Spain it’s not scary, but you can see lions, rhinoceroses, giraffes and ostriches.
In the park "Cabarceno"! Parque de La Naturaleza de Cabarceno! So, what is the difference from a zoo? After all, you just want to become a part of nature, to imagine those distant times when people lived side by side with these wild animals and met them in the forest every day. This dream is just possible. With one condition. Ancient people hunted, but you will not have such a right. As for the rest, you can live in the park practically like a savage for a whole day. This is what this service is called “visit of the savage”, and this is a new feature in the park.
Take photos quickly before you fall!
The company going for this adventure is small, no more than 4 people. Price? Well, let's just say, not a penny, but much cheaper than a flight to Africa - up to 200 euros per person.
But for this money you can pet an elephant and even look at newborns from the animal world. And what a beauty it is! What photographs you can take! Just for the sake of photographs, a true connoisseur of wildlife will, without hesitation, pay for an excursion. This is not to try to insert a lens (which is almost impossible) into a cell of the fencing mesh of a zoo enclosure, so that it seems that the animal is in nature, and not in this very cage. Have you tried it? Then you understand what we're talking about.
Kitty, say “Cheese!”, I’m filming!
Where is this natural miracle?Not far from Santander. It is the administrative center of Cantabria. An old, very pleasant city with its own history and traditions, where you can see and learn a lot of interesting things, stay in a hotel, planning a further visit to natural Park.
Excuse me, what's on the menu these days?
Mountain lovers who know that " better than the mountains there can only be mountains that you haven’t been to yet” can go take a look at the unique mountain system Guadarrama Park - Sierra de Guadarrama. This huge park, stretching at the junction of the provinces of Madrid, Castilla and Leon.
In three months summer season season, the park is visited by approximately 600 thousand tourists! It's a lot? Yes - that's a lot. Are the numbers higher in PortAventura? Yes, most likely. But on our planet there are fewer people who want to plunge into the natural world than those who definitely need to go on rides and have fun. So 600 thousand is a lot, and the park claims to be the most visited natural oasis in the country!
This is not Africa, these are the Spanish Pyrenees. It's amazingly beautiful here. You can personally see the work of the most scientists different directions who do everything to ensure that nature remains as it was before the active intervention of man in its life, even though he is part of nature itself, perhaps its most brilliant work, but not always respecting its creator.
Mountains, lakes, blue sky with white clouds, rustling trees and silence! Silence and tranquility are what we sometimes look for first of all when going into the forest to pick mushrooms or go fishing. We are tired of the noise and bustle of big cities. We are part of nature and it is not surprising that sometimes we want to become it in the literal sense of the word, as they sometimes say, “merge with nature.” And despite its hackneyed nature, the expression is accurate.
And you don’t have to be a professional mountain climber, scout or tracker. They offer routes of varying difficulty levels.
It's true that it's a little sad that natural parks Mostly Germans, British, French are sent, but not as many Russians as we would like. How can we explain this? We don't like nature? No, it’s unlikely; for example, we always try to get to the zoo and aquarium when traveling. Most likely, the fact is that we still have our own places in our vast country where travelers from all over the world also dream of going - Karelia, Baikal, and the list could go on for a long time. Of course, we have already “dirtied” a lot good places, but that's not all. So fans of communication with nature in considerable numbers hang out at home and are busy fighting to preserve this opportunity, which in the current conditions is not an easy task.
Just a tourist in foreign trip limited to a zoo or parks, where the opportunity to see animals is combined with the opportunity to have fun without moving away from civilization.
And someone, it’s trivial, simply doesn’t know how good Spanish natural parks are, and how there are a lot of them in the country! This is also one of the omissions of tour operators, guides and all those who make up tourist routes for Russians. Sightseeing tour in Barcelona or delivery to Port Aventura - the process is simpler and more streamlined, you don’t need to persuade anyone, there won’t be any empty seats on the bus either. It’s a pity that at the traditional meeting with tourists on the day of arrival at the hotel, it is natural excursions that are talked about least of all, briefly or not mentioned at all. Or they say that there is a wonderful park nearby, but we don’t take us there, the regular bus doesn’t go there, and it’s only 20 minutes by taxi! But it's wonderful there. A true fan of the parks can get there on foot, without any taxi, but for a beginner who is in Spain for the first time and hasn’t learned much here yet, the words “the bus doesn’t go, only taxis” can be frightening, especially when there are no attractions park for five holidays ahead and there guides carry. And then you’ll look at a photo of such a place and you’ll regret a hundred times that you didn’t call a taxi.
So here the tourist must take matters into his own hands, find out in advance, preferably even before departure, at home all the necessary information and go ahead! And everyone will find their own park with an individual thematic accent. For some, the most important thing is natural views, for some birds, for others waterfalls and rivers. Who seeks will always find! Can you suggest at least a couple more names for further searches for information and planning a route?
Ordesa and Monte Perdido
It rightfully claims to be the most beautiful nature reserve in the country.
Picos de Europa
The most popular place for mountain lovers, although they are not the highest in the country.
Delta del Ebro
This name is most often found in tourist guides. Particularly interesting for bird lovers.
Aiguamolls de L'Empordà
Aigues Tortes y Lago San Mauricio
But here lies the path for those who love glacial valleys and beautiful waterfalls.
Garrocha
Do you want to feel like a volcanologist? This is where you can try it!
Monseigne.
Just 40 km from Barcelona. How many tourists who live within a radius of 100 km from the city and easily cover this distance five times during their vacation know about this? It's only 40 km. A The park has been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO!
If fate has brought you to Madrid, then you can find a luxurious place here within an hour’s drive.
Sierra del Rincon. About 80 kilometers from the Spanish capital. Finding a park of such beauty 80 km from Moscow is extremely problematic, if you know the address, tell the Muscovites.
Alas, we have almost no nature left in this radius.
A couple more titles?
Font Groga.
Where pines and oaks will greet you, sheltering you from the heat in their shade.
Cazorla
And this is the address for those who are planning to vacation in Andalusia.
A beauty worth looking at. There is a second address in these parts:
Coto de Doñana.
This is not far from the city of Cadiz, which is simply adored by tourists, but not everyone gets to the park. And by decision of UNESCO it was given the status of a biosphere reserve of world significance!
And this is not the final list for Andalusia, there are other parks here!
Sierra Nevada, for example.
It is located in the Granada area.
120 species of butterflies - what do you think? Does your camera have a macro mode? Don't you miss the snow?
And in the Basque Country there are at least 7 natural parks, not counting just beautiful places without the status of a national park!
Well, the islands are a place where God himself simply ordered parks to be! Canary Islands- an oasis in itself!
Teide Park (76 km of hiking trails here!), Parque a Caldera de Taburiente, Timanfaya, Carajonay (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and so on, so on, so on!
It’s impossible to list everything in one publication; it’s impossible to talk about everything. You can only give a tip, and most importantly, convey to those who are planning to travel around Spain that the nature here is beautiful, and there are plenty of opportunities to get to know it.
But speaking about the possibilities, it is still worth remembering that they are not limitless. Some reserves require admission in advance; some are closed. certain time year, some can only be visited with a guide as part of an organized excursion. All this information must be clarified. Most parks have their own official websites, where all the necessary information and recommendations for visitors are posted! So you can start your acquaintance with the nature of Spain in Russia, with virtual walk. And it will be surprising if after viewing the photos you don’t want to see it all in person and take similar pictures in person!
No one will force you to eat packed lunches and sleep in a tent in a modern park, unless of course you order such a service yourself. Almost all parks have small cozy hotels and restaurants where you can relax and refresh yourself. 
And Russians, when thinking about buying a house in Spain or choosing a hotel for vacation, when choosing, first think about the sea, the climate, in a measured manner life, even if only for a couple of weeks a year, about safety, then about nature. It cannot be said that it is completely in the background, but the sea is still more important, although what are we talking about, it is also nature! The sunrises and sunsets alone are worth it.
When you find yourself in place and begin to settle down, either in a house or in a hotel, you make discovery after discovery for yourself. It turns out that literally in the backyard there is something amazing from the natural world, and half an hour’s drive from the hotel there will definitely be a beautiful place where you can wander along the paths between the trees, listen to the chirping of birds, watch a tiny, but almost personal waterfall, organize a picnic in nature. Even if you arrived on a business visit to Barcelona and live in its very center. 40 km for a Russian is really a distance, especially for a Muscovite who is ready to stand in traffic jams for 4 hours on Fridays in order to get to a dacha 120 km from the capital for one day, where at least some traces of nature are still preserved - magpies will fly into the garden or a hedgehog will run under the apple tree and the birds will sing at dawn and the stars in the sky in the evening will be completely different, not some kind of city ones.
The Costa Blanca is one of the popular regions among foreigners, both those who consider it as a “second home” and those who come to relax, especially with children. The British are so in love with Benidorm. And the Russians, apparently tired of the multi-stage process, chose low-rise neighborhoods. By the way, about the surrounding area.
15 kilometers from Benidorm (you can easily get there by bicycle) and in front of you is such beauty: (Waterfalls Les Fonts de l'Algar) not only with the opportunity to admire, but also to swim.
And the residents Guardamar del Segura, where Russians are happy to buy houses or spend vacations, without bothering themselves with a long journey and standing in traffic jams, in 15-20 minutes they can get to Elche Park and get acquainted with plants that adore water, or with cacti that can survive for a long time time without it - flora for every taste in one place and in a natural environment, and not in a flower shop. From the name of the park you can guess that for those living in Elche, all this beauty is practically on the doorstep. Advantages small towns Compared to megacities, Russia also has such cities, you step outside the threshold and untouched nature is at arm’s length. But then you are definitely too far from the capital. Spain itself is smaller, and the distances here are a little different, so it’s even very close to a large city, an oasis of pristine nature,
In Spain, everything is quite close and nearby; the road from city to city and from park to park most often takes less time than simply crossing Moscow from one end to the other.
And this usually pleases tourists who come from big cities with their bustle, traffic jams and the transformation of a walk in nature into a whole process, for which you need to allocate not a couple of hours, but at least a day. And here in a day you can visit several parks if you so desire.
The average tourist is content with visiting a couple of these natural places for a vacation, but for lovers of nature and photography, everything that is within reach of the hotel or place of residence, and several times. Sunset, dawn, clouds, flowers, the flap of the wing of a butterfly or bird - all this is different every day, but every day - every moment. Only then is it very difficult to immediately process a colossal number of photographs of all this beauty in order to select the best.
All this beauty must be seen. And it’s better, of course, not in other people’s photos, but with your own eyes, then when you look at your photos later, there are much more emotions, of course positive!
Partially used materials from the sites “Spain in Russian” and guide.travel.ru
05.03.2017 07:06:04
Among the picturesque slopes of the Pyrenees of Girona and Costa Brava, there are eight natural parks, where the pristine nature of Catalonia has been preserved with zero percent of artificial additives and a huge variety of landscapes.
Icy peaks, secluded bays and beaches, sheer cliffs, extinct volcanoes, dense forests, impenetrable swamps, fast-moving rivers and mirror-like surfaces of lakes...
Hiking through the protected areas of natural parks is a favorite pastime active tourists, which is in no way inferior to reclining on the sunny beaches of Llafranca or Roses.
We bring to your attention several protected places in Catalonia and hope that our article today will help you choose ideal route day off.
Natural Park on the Costa Brava - Cap de Creus
The Cap de Creus Natural Park, pictured above, is located at the easternmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the territory of the cape of the same name jutting far into the sea.This unique place with an extensive water part, the total area of which is 13886 hectares.
Around there is a whole scattering of popular resort settlements: Llanca, El Port de la Selva, La Selva de Mar, Roses, Cadaques, Palau Sabardera, Vilajuiga and Pau. You won't forget the wild, rocky coastline with its secret grottoes, rocky islets and jagged cliffs that have been sculpted by wind and waves over centuries. An imaginative viewer will see grotesque sculptures of lions, dragons, eagles and fairy-tale monsters in this natural splendor.
Natural Park and Reserve of Cap de Creus (Cape of the Cross)– a biological paradise where wild forests and meadows are preserved, rare species herbaceous plants, trees and representatives of the animal world. Staying in this wonderful reserve is a great way to disconnect from the noisy and hectic pace of life.
Here, in a European style, picnic areas with toilets and other amenities are carefully and prudently equipped. Tourists can admire nature without disturbing its delicate balance.
For a holiday in Cap de Creus you can rent apartments in Roses or Llanca.
Natural Park and Reserve of Aiguamolls de l'Empordà
Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Nature Reserve stretches from the foot of the Serra de Rodes mountains in the north to the very mouth of the small 100-kilometer Fluvia River.
total area park 4783 hectares.
This is the second most important natural park, the flora and fauna of which have been under state protection since 1983.
The marshes of Aiguamolls de l'Empordà are home to numerous species of animals, birds and plants. This perfect place for fans of ornithology, because 327 species of birds live here, including species that are very rare for the Iberian Peninsula. Meadow tigers, spoonbills, common cuckoos, and crested cuckoos nest here. Best months to visit the park - March/May or August/October, when you can catch migrating species in the reserve.
To choose the best time to visit the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà park, we advise you to contact the official information and documentation center. The territory is well equipped and ready to welcome tourists in any weather. There is a guarded parking lot and a meteorological station.
Nearby are famous resorts Sant Pere Pescador and Empuriabrava, where it is recommended to rent apartments. If you are not going to stay in one of the campsites.
Spanish Natural Park - Garrotxa Volcanic Zone
covers a vast Holocene volcanic field.
The unique and protected area was taken under state protection in 1985 and is the best example of a volcanic landscape in Spain. Moreover, it is one of the largest volcanic zones in Europe.
But don’t worry: the volcanoes, of which there are about 40 in Garrotxa, have not been dangerous for many millennia. Their last eruption occurred at the beginning of the Holocene, more than 11,000 years ago. On the other hand, the zone is seismically active, and in 1429 there was a major earthquake.
90 kilometers from Barcelona!
The park's area is 12,093 hectares and its lands include 11 municipalities. The park is criss-crossed by winding trails and includes 28 hiking trails that are accessible year-round. The most popular volcanoes among tourists are Santa Margarita, Montsacopa and Croscat (Cruscat). Today they look nothing like the bleak gray landscapes active volcanoes from newsreels: the slopes of sleeping giants, strewn with fertile ash, have long been covered with dense forests and lush meadows.
The Garrotxa volcanic zone is a refuge for bears, foxes, squirrels, rabbits, weasels, newts, water snakes and many other animals. There are all amenities for tourists here, and there is a museum nearby.
The reserve is located northwest of Girona. Nearest Big City- Ulot (Olot), but there are many picturesque villages scattered around the volcanic massif, such as Santa Pau. If you want to admire the local landscapes to your heart's content, we recommend staying here. Fortunately, the sea is far away and apartments are much cheaper than in Palamos or Estartit.
Natural Park of Catalonia - Cadí-Moixeró
Cadi-Moixero was created in 1983 to preserve natural resources foothills of the Pyrenees.
This is the largest natural park in Catalonia, which is spread over three districts - Alt-Urgell, Bergheda and Cerdanya. The rocky landscape of the reserve is formed by the mountain ranges of the same name Cadi and Moixero, as well as the Tosa and Puigllançada massifs.
The border of the park is the Tancalaporta pass, which from the north has formed almost vertical cliffs with vertical walls, deep below, abruptly turning into deserted rocky valleys.
Cadi Moixero is an ideal destination for physically fit, resilient travelers who crave excitement and contact with wild nature. There are busy trails around this giant mountain complex, and the closest and most convenient locality- the town of Baga.
Baga is a tiny municipality with a population of just over 2,000 inhabitants, located in the Llobregat River valley. The E-9 highway passes through this ancient town, along which most tourists get here. To conquer Cadi, it is better to rent an apartment here.
Costa Brava Nature Reserve - Montseny
Located inland at the southern tip of the Costa Brava, Montseny Park is the highest massif of the coastal mountain range that stretches from Barcelona to Girona.
One of the main natural features Montseny Reserve - a variety of relief and vegetation associated with a gradual and significant change in altitude above sea level. Holm oak and pine trees give way to cork oak and beech forests.
Rare species of animals and plants, almost driven to extinction by active human activity, found refuge here.
Montseny, like the rest of the reserves and natural parks of the Costa Brava – real paradise for nature lovers. The area is well-groomed and superbly equipped. The park has several restaurants, campsites and other amenities. At the foot of mountain range Ancient villages are nestled on all sides, where you can admire the monuments of the turbulent Middle Ages.
Costa Brava is a land of natural beauty and rich history.
Having visited the beaches and taken several excursions, you will not know even a fraction of its splendor: this land can be discovered again and again!There are more than 400 nature reserves in Spain that protect the main ecosystems of the peninsula and islands.
Ordesa and Monte Perdido
National Park www.ordesa.net Ordesa - Monte Perdido is one of the first nature reserves in Spain, still considered the most beautiful in the country. In 1918, the Ordesa Park (area 156 sq. km) was created in the northern regions of Aragon, united in 1977 with the Monte Perdido mountain park (3355 m). The park is considered the most striking example of the natural complex of the Pyrenees - here you can see picturesque mountain peaks (Las Tres Sorores, Refugio Goris, Monte Perdido, etc.), the Ordesa and Anisio canyons, the Desfiladero de las Cambras gorges, Font Blanca, Esquain and Anisclo, the circuses of Soaso, Cotajero and Carriata, the frozen lake of Marbore, the waterfalls of Cole de Caballo, Carriata and Cotatuero. The foothills of the mountains are covered with dense beech and poplar forests, and above begins a zone of mixed forests inhabited by big amount animals. The fauna of the park is so rich that from time to time some species are even shot here to maintain the natural balance of the ecosystem. Ordesa - Monte Perdido adjoins the French Pirenne National Park, forming a vast protected area with many walking, equestrian and ecological trails.
Picos de Europa
The National Park www.picoseuropa.net covers a vast area on the border of León, Cantabria and Asturias. This is far from the most high mountains in Spain, but this area is a favorite among fans hiking, trekking and mountaineering. Here, in a small mountain range literally 40 km across, three large river gorges are concentrated, including the twenty-kilometer Cares Canyon (depth - more than a kilometer), the deep Rio Sella valley (the central section of this valley - Desfiladero de los Beyos - considered the narrowest gorge in Europe) and the Rio Virgo gorge, which almost does not see sunlight, several peaks connected by a cable car in Fuente De (Fuente de Virgo), a low hilly plateau, the small historical town of Potes, several old monasteries and churches, more 60 km of hiking trails, prehistoric caves and colorful churches of Santillana del Mar (26 km west of Santander) and Puente Viesjo, rock paintings in Altamira (approximately 25-12 centuries BC, 2 km west of Santillana), as well as the cult lakes and caves of Covadonga for the Asturians (considered the birthplace of Christianity in Spain). In 1995, the region received the status of a national park, which protects rare species of mountain vegetation and birds, primarily birds of prey.
Delta del Ebro
National Park www.deltebre.net Delta del Ebro (area 320 sq. km) is located in Catalonia, at the junction of the famous beach areas Costa Dorada and Costa del Assar. This is the second largest area of wet sea coast (after the Camargue) in the western Mediterranean. In the Ebro Delta, a unique flora and fauna has formed, perfectly adapted to life on the saline sandy soils of the coastal zone. There are over 500 species of plants, more than 300 species of birds (cormorants, flamingos, herons, sea terns, gulls and others), and during the migration season literally millions of birds gather on the local shores and salt lakes, in swamps and dunes. In addition to the park itself, there is an ecological station with a museum and a small aquarium, as well as an ornithology museum, and regular river cruises, and the coastal waters are very rich in fish.
Aiguamolls de L'Empordà
Halfway between L'Escala and Roses, around the bay of the same name, lies one of the most accessible and popular nature reserves in Spain - Aiguamolls de l'Emporda, or Els Aiguamolls de l'Emporda. Its creation in 1983 was the result of a long campaign to stop the construction of a residential area in the area of the system of marshes and lagoons stretching between the mouths of the rivers Muga and Fluvia. These wetlands once occupied almost the entire coast of the Gulf of Roses and were drained for agricultural purposes and for the purpose of liquidation. sources of the spread of malaria However, this area has been a nesting site for birds since time immemorial, an important “transit zone” for many birds on their natural migration routes, and was also important. historical region, on whose territory unique monuments of antiquity are concentrated. Therefore, in 1983, the Catalan Parliament almost unanimously transferred these lands for the creation of a natural park (47.3 sq. km) and a nature reserve (8.3 sq. km).
In addition to unique landscapes somewhat reminiscent of Brittany, hundreds of bird nesting sites and a large population of wild animals, here you can see the medieval ensemble of the Castello d'Empuries castle, the ecological museum of La Farinera, the Roses fortress and nearby dolmens of the Stone Age, the castle in Peralada , the Greek and Roman ruins of Empuries, the monastery of Sant Per de Rodes, the Empordà theater and the Toy Museum in Figueres, the colorful Iberian village of Ullastret and the Montgri del Baix Ter museum in Torroella de Montgri (Torroella de Montgri).
Aigues Tortes y Lago San Mauricio
The “stormy water reserve” of Aiguestortes i Estany Sant Maurici, 105 sq. km, is located in the Catalan Pyrenees, at the foot of the Aneto peak. This is the only full-fledged national park in Catalonia, protecting a vast (more than 140 sq. km) and beautiful mountainous region of snowy peaks ( highest point- Mount Besiberry Sud, 3017 m), almost 400 glacial lakes ("estani"), picturesque glacial valleys and countless waterfalls. Outside the park, in the so-called “peripheral protection zone” (270 sq. km), there are about 410 glacial lakes, mountain cirques and green valleys, inhabited by thousands of natural mountainous regions species of plants and animals. And all this splendor is covered with dense coniferous forests and the most beautiful alpine meadows Spain. The fate of the park itself is also interesting - opened in 1955 and significantly expanded between 1986 and 1996, it is still not recognized by the international community due to hydroelectric work carried out in this territory. However, this did not prevent UNESCO from including numerous examples of Romanesque architecture in the Val de Boi in the List World Heritage, and scientists from all over the world carefully study the unique experience of the proximity of a beautiful reserve and modern economic activity person.
The best time to visit the park is from the end of May to the end of October; during the rest of the year, access is difficult due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Garrocha
The volcanic zone of Garrotxa (La Garrotxa Natural Park, PNZVG, area 150 sq. km) is one of the most unusual nature reserves in Spain. This is not a reserve as such, but an attempt by man to achieve the preservation of nature in the conditions of its intensive development, implemented in full accordance with the special pan-European program Parks for Life. Here, in the upper reaches of the Fluvia River (Catalonia), on a densely forested ancient volcanic plateau, there are 26 small nature reserves (including 3 volcano reserves - La Fageda d'en Jorda, Croscat and Montsacopa), many old villages and towns (interesting that 98% of the park is private property). There are also more than 70 volcanoes (40 of them are active, but volcanism manifests itself only in the form of mud flows - the last eruption in this area was almost 12 thousand years ago) and 20 frozen lava flows, almost a thousand thermal springs, as well as fifty most picturesque gorges. The local ecosystem is very rich - approximately 1,173 species of flowering plants alone grow here and 257 species of vertebrates live here, and river life is also diverse. And the landscape and landscapes of Garrotxa are considered one of the most picturesque in the country.
There are also many other beautiful natural parks in Catalonia - declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO Monseigne(El Parque Natural del Montseny, 40 km from Barcelona), Spain's first marine reserve of the islands Medes(Illes Medes), a park protecting a beautiful mountainous area Sant Llorenc de Munt i Llobac(Parque Natural de Sant Llorenc del Munt i L"obac), natural park Alt-Pirene(L"Alt Pirineu Natural Park, PNAP, 698 sq. km) with its two nature reserves and beautiful mountain landscapes, natural park Kadi-Moshero(El Cadi-Moixero, 413 sq. km) in the picturesque Cadi Mountains with a bird sanctuary (SPAB) and the Pedraforsa and Gresolet valleys (the park is considered the most diverse ecosystem in Catalonia and is included in the European conservation project Natura 2000 Network), Cape Natural Park Creus(Cap de Creus Natural Park, 138 sq. km, the first marine reserve in the country, combining two environmental zones at once - land and sea), most picturesque mountains parka Els Ports(Els Ports) on the border of Catalonia, Valencia and Aragon, a young (founded in 2002) reserve Sierra del Monzan(La Serra del Montsant, 924 sq. km) with its unique landscapes and the richest flora in Catalonia, as well as a nature reserve Font Groga(protects a typical Mediterranean forest of pines and holm oaks, a very popular location for various competitions).
Cazorla
The Natural Park of Cazorla, Segura and Las Billas (Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Billas), which is most often called simply Cazorla, is the largest nature reserve in Andalusia (area 2143 sq. km) - located northeast of Jaen. This vast expanse of heavily eroded mountains, spectacular cliffs, wide valleys, elevated plains ("navas"), dozens of lakes and dense forests is the most popular place walking tours, which also have many interesting historical villages. Animal world The region is quite rich - ibex, mouflon, fallow deer, deer and wild boar are found here. Best time to visit the park - from April to June, as well as September and October.
Coto de Doñana (Doñana)
Near Cadiz (Andalusia) lies www.parquenacionaldonana.com Coto de Doñana National Park is the largest and most important nature reserve in southern Spain. These arid regions have always been quite unfriendly to both humans and animals, so the marshy area between Coria del Rio and Trebujena, irrigated by Guadalquivir, has been home to a huge variety of flora and fauna from time immemorial. More than 600 sq. km of dunes, pine and oak forest, swamps and freshwater lagoons in the Guadalquivir delta are considered the largest roadless area in Western Europe, and therefore the first park in the south of the country was created here. In Coto de Doñana you can see great amount birds, most notably flamingos, herons, several species of rare birds of prey, more than thirty families of the endangered Spanish lynx and the equally rare Spanish vulture, mongooses and a huge number of migratory birds. By decision of UNESCO, the park was given the status of a biosphere reserve of world significance.
Currently, visiting the park is only possible in organized groups by boat from Sanlúcar de Barrameda or with a short organized tour(April - September: daily from 8.30 to 17.00; October - March: from Thursday to Sunday from 8.30 to 15.00, ticket - 21 euros).
Cabo de Gata
Natural Park /www.degata.com/eng/ Cabo de Gata (Parque Natural Cabo de Gata) occupies 340 square meters. km in the very east of Andalusia. These are dry, but scenic spots with many coastal cliffs, dunes, salt lagoons and lakes, it is a traditional nesting site for birds and is protected by several reserves - the Special Bird Protection Area (SPA), the Salinas del Cabo de Gata International Wetland Reserve, the Biosphere Reserve and the Special Zone Protection of the Mediterranean (SPAMI). The reserve also includes a strip of sea with an area of 120 square meters. km (2 km from the coast). However, this is not only a protected area - along almost 30 km you can find several fishing villages, the Playa de San Miguel beach area, a small resort town San Jose, famous for its ceramics and handmade carpets, the town of Nijar, many sports centers (primarily diving and fishing), yacht clubs, hotels and restaurants, which makes these areas excellent for both observing wildlife and relaxing by the sea.
Sierra Nevada
Andalusian Sierra Nevada National Park National Park, 862 sq. km) was created in 1999 in the Granada area to protect the southernmost mountain range Europe. The Sierra Nevada is especially rich in wild flowers (more than 2,100 species, 50 species of local flowering plants are endemic) and wildlife (the calling card of this area is the Spanish ibex, Cabra hispanica). The bird life is also excellent - more than 60 species, and quite a few insects - 120 species of butterflies alone have been recorded. And all this in the very south of Europe, literally a stone's throw from the large industrial centers of Andalusia and first-class mountain resorts. Therefore, the park area is especially popular among fans active rest and ecotourists, who are attracted by the magnificent local landscapes, glaciers, green slopes and beautiful nature.
Canary Islands
The most southern province The country is also the most protected natural area of Spain, which is not surprising - in terms of the totality of their environmental indicators, these islands can compete with the world famous Galapagos, and in terms of the proximity of unique natural sites to first-class recreation areas, they are ahead of them by a wide margin. The island of Tenerife is home to the most famous conservation area of the archipelago - Teide National Park(Cañadas del Teide), covering 135 sq. km of slopes around the volcano of the same name and the giant (25 by 15 km) Cañadas caldera. The large difference in altitude, mild climate, fertile volcanic soils and long-term isolation from the mainland allowed the formation of unique natural complexes here, which also have a pronounced zonality. There are 57 species of plants alone that are not found anywhere else in the world! In total, there are 169 species of flowering plants, and even those that are widespread species are often completely different from their relatives from the mainland. The park clearly shows traces of geological processes that determine the evolution of ocean islands, which, together with its amazing nature, allowed UNESCO to include Cañadas del Teide in 2007 on the World Heritage List of Humanity. There are 76 km of hiking trails, good highway with many observation platforms, and the top of Teide (3550 m) can be reached by cable car.
There is a National Park on the island of La Palma La Caldera de Taburiente(Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente, 46.9 sq. km), guarding the huge (approximately 10 km in diameter, the height of the walls reaches 2545 m) caldera of an ancient volcano, formed approximately 2 million years ago. The crater has been greatly altered by erosion and is now a vast mountain cirque, cut by river beds, covered with amazing Canarian vegetation (here, as in Tenerife, almost a third of the species are endemic) and has a modest but very peculiar fauna (95% of local animal species are birds). The most ancient rock formations of the archipelago (the so-called “Basalt complex”, age about 1.9 million years) and many unique intrusive formations were also discovered here. Based on the totality of its parameters, the Caldera de Taburiente is considered the largest erosion crater in the world. There are several companies that offer walking tours of the caldera, but solo travelers must obtain permission from the local information office to visit the area.
National Park Timanfaya(Timanfaya, area 51 sq. km) is located on the island of Lanzarote. This land of fire-breathing mountains (the name of the island can be translated as “Land of a Hundred Volcanoes”) is included in the list of UNESCO biosphere reserves as an example of a volcanic landscape, which, in addition to its undoubted geological interest, also has unique natural complexes. Suffice it to say that in the 18th century, the eruption of local volcanoes lasted almost without interruption for three years, which completely changed both the appearance of the island and its nature. Until now, the underground heat in many places is so strong that new geysers appear and disappear here almost every day, and local residents they manage to fry meat right on the ground (however, this is more of a tourist attraction than a general trend). Therefore, the nature of the island is sparse, but those species that manage to survive in such difficult conditions are of undoubted interest both for science and for travelers. Of great interest, as in Tenerife or La Palma, are the unique geological forms of the island - from amazing lava tubes to simple sea pebbles formed from multi-colored volcanic rocks.
Biosphere Reserve Gran Canaria(Gran Canaria) occupies about 40% of the island's area and covers almost all local ecosystems - from mountain peaks to beaches and sea areas, including even valleys used for agriculture. It is not for nothing that the island is called a “continent in miniature” - so many different types of climate, landscapes and natural complexes are recorded here that can hardly be found anywhere else in such a limited space (the area of the island itself is only 1560 sq. km). It consists of 32 protected areas, including the unique reserve of the Maspalomas dunes (area 250 hectares, the length of the dune section is more than 3 km), the Nublo rural park and the rock monolith of the same name 80 meters high, the Doramas jungle, the Azuaje, Tamadaba and Pino Santo gorges , two reptile parks, archaeological park Cueva Pintada and many other unique sites.
National Park Karahonay, occupying the central and northern regions of the island of La Gomera (area 39 sq. km), is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Business card reserve is "laurisilva" ("laurel selva") - a relict wet a tropical forest, which in the Tertiary period covered the whole of Europe, but is now preserved only here, on Azores and Madeira. The most striking representatives of the local flora are two subspecies of the common laurel - Laurus azorica and Laurus canariensis, which are noticeably different from their "mainland" counterparts (primarily in size - local laurels can reach 40 meters in height, unlike the common laurel, which rarely reaches " height" more than 6 meters). Many other representatives of the island's rich vegetation are also endemic, but the fauna is not rich, but also peculiar - two local species of reptiles, two species of amphibians and two species of birds are found here. Entry to the park is only possible with permission tourist office Juego de Bolas in La Palmita.
Parks of Asturias, Galicia, Cantabria, etc.
In Asturias there are the Picos de Europa National Park, the Somiedo, Reres, Fuetes de las Ibias y del Narcea Natural Parks, the Barayo, Pelogno, Ria de Hero Nature Reserves, as well as the Muñelos Biological Reserve, which you can visit which requires special permission.
There are four natural parks in Galicia: Complexo Dunar de Corrubedo (from here you can enjoy amazing views of the most high dune in the north of the peninsula), Lagunas de Carregal y Vixan, Baixa Limia Serra do Xures (Ourense) and Islas Cies, as well as Monte Aloya. There are also four natural areas of national importance: Area de Aliariz, Cabo Villan, Cumbre de Curotinha and Estaca de Bares.
85 km north of Madrid lies the Sierra del Rincon Park, which has the status of a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Here, on an area of 152 sq. km, there are 193 species of invertebrate animals, 833 species of plants (55 species of flora and fauna are endemic), and a characteristic feature is the desolation of these areas, which facilitates the protection of natural complexes.
In Cantabria, the natural park of Dunas de Liecres (the most beautiful dunes in the region and an impressive bird colony), the biosphere reserves of Alto de Bernesga, Los Valles de Omaña y Luna and Los Argüellos (form a joint conservation area) are noteworthy , covering almost all of the Cantabrian mountain regions).
The Basque Country has seven natural parks, two biological zones, biosphere reserve Urdaibai (near Guernica) and the newest marine reserve Cachucho, which protects fish spawning areas in the area of the seamount of the same name in the Bay of Biscay.
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