FLORA & FAUNA IN SPAIN

Flora and fauna in Spain have a typical Mediterranean character. Most common trees are the oak, chestnut, birch and the beech tree. On higher areas there are also coniferous woods.

The fauna has some African elements (chameleon, mongoose and others), which slowly penetrate into the north. Big mammals are: the brown bear, wolf, lynx, feral cat, wild boar, red deer, roe deer, Spanish ibex and chamois, although some of these species have become quite rare. But the last few decades there is much more attention for the protection of these species, for example by creating national wildlife reserves. There is a great variety in birdlife: the stork and several sorts of large birds of prey are still common in a lot of areas. One of the most striking species is the blue magpie, which can be found in central and south Spain and (except for Portugal) only exists in China. Of all European countires, Spain has the greatest variety of reptiles. And of course there is a lot of fish in the seas surrounding Spain, tuna being the most popular for consumption.

Spain has nine national parks and hundreds wildlife reserves.

Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlanticas 

Sea refuge in the Rías Baixas (southern coast of Galicia).

Located in the province of Pontevedra, the National Park of the Atlantic islands including the Cíes Islands, and Ons, Cortegada and Sálvora all in the Rías Baixas (southern coast of Galicia).An ecosystem sea-land with an interesting and important colony of sea birds that live on it.

The park has four groups of islands that are distributed between the estuaries of Vigo, Pontevedra and Arousa. Home and shelter to one of the most numerous colonies of seagulls on the Spanish coast and other species such as the shag, cormorant, the common shag, etc.

In this ecosystem sea-land there have been more than 200 alga types recorded and 400 land plant species.For curiosity sake, it is home to the largest laurel forest in Europe.As for the fauna, there exists 200 species of different animals including an important colony of sea birds as well as diverse species of turtles, dolphins, seals, whales, shell fish and molluscs.

Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa 

Picos de Europa is the first Spanish National Park to receive this classification. Its origin dates back to 1918, when don Pedro Pidal, Marquis of Villaviciosa, helped establish the law to create Montaña de Covadonga National Park. Since 30 May 1935, it has been called Picos de Europa National Park.

The Picos de Europa consist of three important massifs that go by the names of the Eastern Massif or Andara, Central Massif or Urrielles and Western Massif or Cornión. The climate is characterized by humidity and constant rainfall, a fact that is determined by its proximity to the sea (barely 20 kilometres). The presence of snow is accentuated during the winter months, however, it is not unusual for there to be perpetual snow. The Park's special climate means that there are frequent fog banks, something that is greatly feared by mountaineers. As for its orography, the Park has an exceptional relief, where high summits alternate with deep gorges and canyons. The park boasts 200 heights of over 2,000 metres, and vertical drops of over 2,300 m. The Central Massif is the most abrupt of the three that make up the Park and the greatest heights can be found there: Torrecerredo (2,646 m), the highest summit in the Picos, Naranjo de Bulnes (2,519 m) or Pico Tesorero (2,570 m). The Western Massif is the most extensive, and it possesses high summits, like Peña Santa de Castilla (2,596 m), intermingled with meadows, hillside forests, beech and oak groves and moors. The famous Covadonga lakes can be found on this massif. The Eastern massif, shorter and lower, blends sharp crag with green pastures. The Park is crossed by four rivers channelled in deep gorges: la Hermida defile, crossed by the river Deva; los Beyos defile, by the river Sella; la 'Garganta Divina',(Divine Gorge) through which the river Cares runs, and La India defiles, though which the river Duje flows. There are numerous viewpoints in the Park from where you can admire its beauty. An interesting alternative is to use Fuentedé funicular, via which you can go up to a height of more than 1,800 metres above sea level.

In Picos de Europa National Park, Spain's best Atlantic forest can be found. Beech, oak, hazel, maple, chestnut and walnut trees abound.... The valley is inhabited by numerous species of animals, from wild boars, roe deer, wolves and several bears, a multitude of small birds (robins, coal tits or black woodpeckers), and even the emblematic capercaillie.

Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido

 Alpine site presided by Monte Perdido.

This National Park is characterised by high peaks and steep slopes, in which the peak of Monte Perdido stands (3,335 m), topped by its glacier, rising up over the entire site.

It forms a stunning landscape ensemble dominated by high peaks. It possesses a wide variety of ecosystems, with both Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, translating as a rich and diverse flora and fauna. The massif of Monte Perdido (3,355 m) presides over its orography, with the summits of Tres Sorores, from where the valleys of Ordesa, Pineta, Añisclo and Escuaín come from. A sharply contrasting landscape: the extreme aridity of the high ground, where the rainwater and thaw filter through cracks and holes, contrasts with the green valley’s covered in forests and meadows, where the water forms waterfalls and travels along canyons and ravines.

Parque Nacional de Aiguestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici

 A crystal-clear paradise of peace and tranquility.

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park has the characteristics of Pyrenean areas of high mountain, which gives it its main distinguishing feature water.

This park's setting is characterised by crystal-clear waters that run through the numerous lakes and rivers, that enrich this Pyrenean landscape. Next to the torrents and waterfalls stand leafy forests which, when its snows, are stunning. However, not only is the landscape noteworthy, its biological treasures are extraordinary. It is a true paradise for nature lovers: lakes, torrents, waterfall, peat bogs, rocky ground, rugged peaks and leafy forests of hooked pine, fir, wild pine, birch and beech, are home to interesting alpine or northern plants and animals.

It is a Pyrenean high mountain ecosystem. Its main distinguishing features are the more than 200 lakes or 'estanys,' the crags 'Els Encantats' and its characteristic high mountain meanders (the aigüestortes). The forest formations are quite representative: hooked pine, fir, wild pine, birch and beech. The bearded-vulture is the most representative bird in the park. It lives on the sheer mountain faces, its finds cornices, caves and cracks in which to breed. Its lake and river fauna is very extensive, with the common trout, rainbow trout, grass frog, common toad and Pyrenean newt. In the rivers and streams live the muskrat of the Pyrenees, although it is difficult to see it because of its night habits, and the otter.

Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel 

The Park forms an exceptional and unique ecosystem, called wetlands, formed by the overflows of the rivers in their middle sections, that cause great pools. it great ecological worth is the bird life that uses this area in winter and for nesting, thereby creating a whole area of water birds.

Tablas de Daimiel formed as the result of overflows at the confluence of the rivers Guadiana and Cigüela, a fact favoured by the slight slope of the land. The Wetlands are strategically located on the migratory routes of many species of birds, that use the area to rest, and even spend the winter. The water birds are the absolute protagonists of the Park. They include the great crested grebe, the common grebe, black-necked grebe, herons, egrets, and all kinds of Iberian ducks. In the Wetlands numerous aquatic flowers grow.. Some grow underwater (like the horwart or musk grass), float (such pondweed) and emerging (cladium mariscum, reed and rush).

Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada

This park combines beauty and ecological wealth, not forgetting that the highest peaks on the mainland are to found here.

 It is situated to the south-east of Granada and extends to the eastern end of Almería. It combines smooth areas with other very rugged ones. Mulhacén and Veleta, the highest peaks on the mainland are situated here. It is an extraordinary landscape site, with a morphology of glacial origin, forests and different areas of natural vegetation. The presence of several local endemisms is important. It landscape is rich in mineral-medicinal waters. Fifteen of its summits exceed 3,000 metres in altitude. The most characteristic species in the park is the mountain goat.

Parque Nacional de Donana

The National Park's biodiversity is the result of the conjunction of different ecosystems.The Park is noted for its extreme flatness. There, you can see a transition from the undulating topography of the 'cotos' to the marshes, which are the most noteworthy seeing as they provide a refuge for many migratory birds. The vegetation is also determined by the different ecosystems (dunes, sandy ground, fresh water and lakes...). With respect to the fauna, Doñana is home to a large number of species which, apart from the outstanding presence of the birds, includes the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), which has become an emblem of the Park, since it is a carnivore endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

Parc Nacional de Cabaneros

Cabañeros National Park is noted for its rich fauna, that includes a considerable number of endemic species. The lush pastures, mountain ranges and massifs covered in forests and Mediterranean scrub, make this landscape particularly beautiful. It is also the habitat of very important fauna, mainly consisting of birds (black vulture, Iberian eagle, golden eagle). Cabañeros is also a land of large mammals (45 species). It is easy to spot the red deer, wild boar or roe deer.

Cabañeros combines Mediterranean landscape with some areas of Atlantic vegetation; thus, for example, we find pastures, holm oak or cork oak groves and scrub. The fauna in the park is very rich, and boasts several endemic species. Here live almost 200 species of birds and large mammals.

Parque Nacional de Monfrague

n the province of Cáceres we find varied ecosystems of great environmental value, like Mediterranean forests, rocky lands and meadows. In addition, rivers and reservoirs irrigate the river side in the Monfragüe National Park.

The Monfragüe National Park has the biggest colony of Cinereous vultures in the world (more than 200 couples) and the biggest concentration of imperial eagles in the world (more than 10 couples). It is one of the few habitats were Iberian lynxes still survive.