SPANISH NATIONAL PARKS

COMENIUS PROYECT 2009/2011

“VALORIZATION OF NATURAL SITIES”

DOÑANA

DOÑANA

Area: 54,252 Ha

Province: Huelva and Seville

(Andalusia).

The confluence of ecosystems

gives a unique personality to this

park. It has great biological

diversity and brings together

three major ecological systems:

marsh, mobile dunes and

reserves, and a large contact

area. There are two species in

danger of extinction being

protected:

·The imperial eagle: Ensuring

the nests before and during

reproduction as well as

providing supplementary

feeding.

·The Lynx: The objective is to

recover its population density

and optimal distribution so that

it contributes to stabilize its

population and allows the

colonization of other nearby

areas.

SIERRA NEVADA

SIERRA NEVADA

Area: 86,208 ha.

Province: Granada

and Almeria

(Andalusia)

The steep peaks,

while overlooking a

vast horizon, tinged

with people, with

meadows full of

vegetables are

covered with snow

and ice, 9180 feet of

which are

perpetual.

Amphibians,

reptiles, mammals

and birds are

common. The

mountain goat,

usually of the high

peaks, is the most

characteristic

species of the park.

ORDESA Y MONTE PERDIDO

ORDESA Y MONTE PERDIDOArea: 15,608 ha. Province: Huesca (Aragon)

Its landmark is the

massif of Monte

Perdido (3,355 m), with

the summits of the Tres

Sorores. Characterized

by a landscape of

contrasts: extreme

aridity of the higher

areas where rainwater

sees through cracks

and sinks, contrasting

with the green valleys

covered with forests

and meadows where

water forms waterfalls

through canyons and

ravines.

PICOS EUROPA

PICOS DE EUROPA

Area: 64,660 ha.

Province: Asturias,

León and Cantabria.

It represents the Atlantic forest-

related ecosystems. It has the

largest limestone formation in

Atlantic Europe, with significant

karstic processes, reaching depths

over 1,000 m, very clear glacial

erosion and presence of lakes. Its

cliffs are inhabited by chamois in

dense forests together with deer,

wolves and the occasional

presence of bears. There are 100

bird species such as the black

woodpecker and the capercaillie.

Regarding large predators we can

find griffon vultures and golden

eagles. But there is much more

than scenery, centuries of history

are written in the villages, valleys,

churches, and in their paths.

CABAÑEROS

CABAÑEROS

Area: 40,856 ha.

Province: Ciudad Real and

Toledo (Castilla-La Mancha)

Famous for having been on

the verge of becoming a

shooting range is now one of

the most valuable protected

areas of Montes de Toledo, a

refuge for many endangered

species. The mountain ranges

and massifs are covered with

Mediterranean forest and

thicket which shelter a large

variety of birds and mammals

such as deer, roe deer and

wild boars.

.

TABLAS DE DAIMIEL

TABLAS DE DAIMIEL

Area: 1.928 ha.

Province: Ciudad Real

(Castilla-La Mancha).

This is the last

representative of a fluvial

ecosystem called Tablas,

formed by the overflowing

of the rivers Guadiana

and Gigüela. It represents

the ecosystems related to

inland wetlands. A variety

of waterfowl inhabits Las

Tablas. Among the flora,

aquatic plants are the

basic substrate of Las

Tablas de Daimiel, and

the only existing trees are

the tamarisk trees.

AIGÜESTORTES

AIGÜESTORTES

Area: 14,119 hectares

approx.

Province: Lleida

(Catalonia)

Its main distinguishing

features are the amount

of lakes (more than 200),

the breathtaking cliffs

and their characteristic

meanders. It is a paradise

for lovers of nature: lakes,

streams, waterfalls,

rugged peaks and lush

forests of black pines, firs,

pines, birches and

beeches. It is also the

home to many interesting

plants and fascinating

animals of alpine or

northern origin.

MONFRAGÜE

MONFRAGÜE

Area: 18,118 ha.

Province: Cáceres

(Extremadura)

It is one of the best areas

of Mediterranean forest.

The Tajo and Tiétar

rivers form the axis of

the park which is fitted

into a narrow gorge of

quartzite and slate

mountain rages. The

landscape has great

contrast: it combines the

extreme aridity of the

highlands with the green

valleys covered with

forests and meadows.

Among its fauna the most

characteristic species of

this park are Iberian

imperial eagles, black

vultures, black storks

and Iberian lynxes.

ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE CABRERA

Archipiélago de Cabrera

Area: 10,021 ha (land

and 1,318 offshore

8703)

Province: Mallorca

It is the best example

of undisturbed

ecosystems of the

Mediterranean

Spanish islands. There

are large colonies of

seabirds, endemic

species and is one of

the best preserved

marine resources of

our coastline. In this

park there are over

150 species of birds

and 200 species of fish.

CALDERA DE TABURIENTE

CALDERA DE TABURIENTE

Area: 4.690 ha.

Province: Santa Cruz de

Tenerife (Canary Islands).

It is characterized by a

huge circus of 8 km in

diameter cauldron-shaped,

where multiple volcanic

eruptions, major

landslides, erosive forces

of water and time have

modeled its

geomorphology, making it

a rugged landscape with

almost 2,000 m drop. It

stands out for its high cliffs

and ravines, forming a

pine forest ecosystem with

endemic plants and

animals.

GARAJONAY

GARAJONAY

Area: 3,986 ha.

Province: Island of La

Gomera (Canary

Islands).

A short distance from

the Sahara desert

coast, along the

summits of the island

of Gomera, one takes

refuge in the most

unique and

emblematic forests of

the state. The mist

that rises from the

ocean is ‘glued’ to the

summits. Another

attraction of this park

is the moisture and

freshness, which

favors the existence of

mysterious forests,

the last remaining

survivors of

subtropical forests

that existed millions

of years ago.

TEIDE

TEIDEArea: 18,990 ha.

Province: Santa

Cruz de Tenerife

(Canary Islands).

It is the oldest and

largest of the

Canarian parks. Its

special geological

landscape is one of

the most

spectacular in the

world, where the

volcanic cones and

lava flow forming an

incredible range of

colours and shapes.

It’s remarkably rich

biologically

speaking, with an

extraordinary

percentage of

endemic plant

species and a

unique invertebrate

fauna.

TIMANFAYA

TIMANFAYA

Area: 5107 ha.

Province: Las Palmas

(Canary Islands).

From this place they say

is not a dead land, but

newborn. Although

apparently a desolate

and rugged landscape it

is colonized mainly by

the plant world. I

consists mainly of shades

of black and reddish

sands and lapillis and

dark basaltic lava, all

spotted with different

colors of many species

belonging to the lichens.

You can not forget its

biological richness and

the large number of

endemic plants and

animals.

PARQUE MARÍTIMO TERRESTRE DE LAS ISLAS ATLÁNTICAS DE GALICIA

PARQUE MARÍTIMO TERRESTRE DE LAS ISLAS ATLÁNTICAS DE GALICIA

Surface: 8480 ha (7285.2

and 1194.8 maritime

terrestrial)

Province: Pontevedra and

A Coruña (Galicia).

These islands emerge from

the ocean and beautify the

seascape with cliffs. In the

bottom of the sea is where

the ecological wealth of

this park lays. It is

certainly a place to

discover the mysteries and

legends of the Atlantic.

There are over 200 types

of algae where many fish

and shellfish breed and

live. Sea birds are adapted

to living in the narrow

crevices of the cliffs.

FUERTEVENTURA

FUERTEVENTURA

Area: 1659 km2

Province: Las Palmas

(Canarias)

Currently, the Governing

Council has approved a

300,000 € grant to the

Fuerteventura city hall

for conducting the

necessary studies to

submit the proposal for

the creation of a

National Park

representative of

natural systems

themselves in the arid

Canary Island of

Fuerteventura. The

possible declaration of

this new natural area in

Fuerteventura could

have a significant

economic and

environmental impact.