 National Parks in Spain
A total of 1,226 square kms. of the 500,000 that make up Spain
have been set aside as National Parks.
Doñana National Park is located in the provinces of
Seville and Huelva at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river.
It occupies some 50,720 hectares of land and contains three
complementary ecosystems: Marsh, or wetlands; the coastal dunes;
and the Atlantic beaches. These characteristics and its warm
climate - the low temperature in winter is 8ºC - make
this an ideal place for birds migrating south to Africa in
winter as well as the wintering place for other species that
spend the summer in northern Europe.
Tablas de Daimiel National Park occupies 1,982 hectares and
is located in the region known as "La Mancha Humeda",
or wet La Mancha. It is formed by large plains with a large
number of wetlands and endoreic areas in which over 200 different
bird species can be observed.
Montaña de Covadonga National Park occupies 17,000
hectares and is located on the western peak of the Picos de
Europa Mountain Range between the Cares and Dobra rivers. It
is the natural habitat of several animal and plant species
threatened with extinction, such as the holly, the royal eagle
and the capercaille, a kind of woodcock.
Ordesa National Park has 16,000 hectares and is located in
the Huesca Pyrenees near the National Park of the French Pyrenees.
It constitutes a perfectly preserved natural enclave and is
home to the only herd of Pyrenees mountain goats in existence.
Aigües Tortes and Lago de Sant Maurici National Park has a surface area of 10,230 hectares and isolated in the Lleida
Pyrenees. Surrounded by mountain peaks that are 3,000 meters
high, it contains cascades and high mountain lakes set in valleys
and formed by ancient glaciers.
Cañadas del Teide National Park consists of 13,500
hectares and is located on the island of Tenerife. Teide Mountain,
of volcanic origin, is 3,717 meters high and snowcapped in
contrast to the subtropical climate of the island. Among the
rich flora are 50 autoctonous species, some of which grow exclusively
in this park.
Timanfaya National Park occupies 5,170 hectares and is located
on the island of Lanzarote. It consists of relatively recently
formed volcanic formations from the 18th and 19th centuries.
There are also some autoctonous plant species among its sparse
flora. Among its animal species is the Haria lizard.
Caldera de Taburiente National Park occupies 4,690 hectares
and is located on the island of La Palma. It consists of a
giant caldera formed by erosion, with a depth of between 600
and 900 meters and rims that rise up to some 2,400 metres.
Garajonay National Park occupies 3,974 hectares and is located
on the island of Gomera. It has the most important laurisylvan
forests remaining on the Canary Archipelago.
Maritimo-Terrestre National Park of the Cabrera
Archipelago, with 1,836 hectares, is the largest non-populated
island in
the Mediterranean. Regarding fauna, the Eleonor falcon is abundant,
and there are autoctonous wall lizards and flocks of sea birds. |
