Spain examples of nature reserves. Nature of Spain. National parks. Aiguestortes National Park and Lake Sant Maurici, Catalonia

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!
You can combine a beach holiday with additional contact with wildlife in Spain.
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 wonder located? 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 the natural park.

Excuse me, what's on the menu these days?

Mountain lovers who know that “the only thing better than mountains are mountains that you have never been to before” can go take a look at the unique mountain system of Guadarrama Park - Sierra de Guadarrama. This is a huge park stretching at the junction of the provinces of Madrid, Castilla and Leon.

During the three months of the summer 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 look at the work of scientists of various directions who are doing 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 respected 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.

True, it is a little sad that mainly Germans, British, and French go to natural parks, and 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 “messed up” a lot of good places, but not all of them yet. 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.
It’s just that a tourist on a trip abroad is 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 create tourist routes for Russians. A sightseeing tour of Barcelona or delivery to Port Aventura is a simpler and more streamlined process, you don’t need to persuade anyone, and there won’t be any empty seats on the bus. It is 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 report 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 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, natural views are most important, for others, 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. And 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! The Canary Islands are an oasis in themselves!
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 at certain times of the year, and some can only be accessed 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 a 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, a relaxed lifestyle 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 are 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. The advantages of small towns compared to megacities, Russia also has such advantages, 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 such natural places during his vacation, but lovers of nature and photography can visit everything that is within reach of their hotel or place of residence, 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

There are more than 400 nature reserves in Spain that protect the main ecosystems of the peninsula and islands.

Coto de Doñana National Park. Spain's legendary 50,000-hectare Doñana National Park serves as a vernal bird airport that welcomes hundreds of thousands of birds flying from Africa to Europe, stopping in these wooded wetlands to build nests and breed ( Figure 17).

In 1965, the territory where the national park is now located was declared a biological reserve. Four years later, in 1969, these areas received national park status. For this purpose, the state even bought vast territories. In 1980, Doniana entered the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Currently, the Coto De Doñana Park covers an area of ​​77,260 hectares on the Atlantic coast, 55 km southwest of Seville.

Its outstanding global significance is due to the exceptional diversity of its ecosystems and unique combination of natural attractions. About 250 thousand people visit the park every year. However, such attention not only indicates increased interest in the national park. Unfortunately, the poorly controlled tourism business poses a real threat to the existence of the national park. Hotels, golf courses and farm plots that have mushroomed around the area are pumping out so much water that the park is in danger of dying. Over the past 15 years, so much water has been spent on these structures that its level has dropped by 2-9 meters, and some lagoons have dried up. “If anything else is built here,” said the park’s director of scientific research, “Doñana will come to an end.”

Figure 17 - Coto De Doñana National Park

Canary Islands. The southernmost province of 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 square kilometers. 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 the geological processes that determine the evolution of the ocean islands, which, together with the 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, a good road with many observation platforms, and you can climb to the top of Teide (3550 m) by cable car.

On the island of La Palma there is the La Caldera de Taburiente National Park (46.9 sq. km), which protects 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 back. 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.

Timanfaya National Park (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 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.

The Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve occupies about 40% of the island's area and covers almost all local ecosystems - from mountain peaks to beaches and marine 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, the Cueva Pintada archaeological park and many other unique sites.

Carajonay National Park, occupying the central and northern regions of the island of La Gomera (area 39 sq. km), is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The visiting card of the reserve is “laurisilva” (“laurel selva”) - a relict tropical rainforest that covered the whole of Europe in the Tertiary period, but is now preserved only here in the 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 into the park is only possible with permission from the Juego de Bolas tourist office in La Palmita.

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 higher up there begins a zone of mixed forests inhabited by a large number of 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. These are far from the highest mountains in Spain, but this particular area is a favorite among fans of 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 of the 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, 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 system of marshes and lagoons stretching between the mouths of the Muga and Fluvia rivers.These wetlands once occupied almost the entire coast of the Gulf of Roses and were drained for agricultural purposes and with the aim of eliminating sources of the spread of malaria. However, from time immemorial, this area has served as a nesting site for birds, an important “transit zone” for many birds on their natural migration routes, and was also an important historical area, in which unique monuments of antiquity are concentrated. Therefore, in 1983, the Parliament of Catalonia almost unanimously transferred these lands for the creation of a natural park (47.3 sq. km) and a 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 (the highest point is 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 plant and animal species natural to these mountainous areas. And all this splendor is covered with dense coniferous forests and the most beautiful alpine meadows in 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 of the Val de Boi on the World Heritage List, and scientists from all over the world from carefully studying the unique experience of the proximity of a beautiful reserve and modern human economic activity.

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 territory was almost 12 thousand years ago) and 20 frozen lava flows, almost a thousand thermal springs, as well as fifty 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 - land and sea), the most picturesque mountains of the park 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, high plains ("navas"), dozens of lakes and dense forests is a popular hiking destination and also boasts many interesting historical villages. The fauna of the region is quite rich - ibex, mouflon, fallow deer, deer and wild boar are found here. The best time to visit the park is 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 forests, 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 a huge number of 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: 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 dry but picturesque areas with many coastal cliffs, dunes, salt lagoons and lakes are a traditional nesting site for birds and are protected by several reserves - the Special Bird Protection Area (SPA), the Salinas del Cabo de Gata International Wetland Reserve , a biosphere reserve and a Special Protection Area for 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 - over almost 30 km you can find several fishing villages, the beach area of ​​Playa de San Miguel, the small resort town of San Jose, the town of Nijar, famous for its ceramics and handmade carpets, and many sports centers (in primarily diving and fishing), yacht clubs, hotels and restaurants, which makes these areas excellently suitable for both observing wildlife and relaxing by the sea.

Sierra Nevada

Andalusian Sierra Nevada National Park (Sierra Nevada National Park, 862 sq. km) was created in 1999 in the Granada region to protect the southernmost mountain range of 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 major industrial centers of Andalusia and first-class mountain resorts. Therefore, the park area is especially popular among fans of outdoor activities and ecotourists, who are attracted by the magnificent local landscapes, glaciers, green slopes and beautiful nature.

Canary Islands

The southernmost province of 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 the geological processes that determine the evolution of the ocean islands, which, together with the 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, a good road with many viewing platforms, and you can climb to the top of Teide (3550 m) 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 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 marine 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, the Cueva Pintada archaeological park 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. The visiting card of the reserve is “laurisilva” (“laurel selva”) - a relict tropical rainforest that covered the whole of Europe in the Tertiary period, but is now preserved only here in the 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 into the park is only possible with permission from the Juego de Bolas tourist office 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 stunning views of the highest 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, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (near Guernica) and the newest Cachucho Marine Reserve, which protects fish spawning areas in the area of ​​the seamount of the same name in the Bay of Biscay.

One of the points of doubt for buyers of real estate in Spain is nostalgia for the native Russian nature, its forests, lakes and rivers, wildlife and tourism.

That is, our clients say that they doubt whether, having moved to Spain, they will be able to get used to a different nature, so distant and alien. They think that they will miss Russia and its nature.

BUT, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Spain is different.

There are areas - national parks in spain, nature in which is very resembles the nature of different parts of Russia. Of course, they will not replace Russian nature 100%, but for “out-of-town” outings they are quite suitable.

National and distinguished by their diversity of ecological and natural resources: mountains and wetlands, beaches and forests, volcanoes and lakes.

Nature takes center stage in these unique places, with some designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Want to get to know them better?

Stretching from the Pyrenees to the Canary Islands, Spain's national parks are a must-see for all wildlife lovers. They cover a total of more than 325,000 hectares of land and have enormous natural and cultural value, because the nature here has been practically untouched by humans for centuries, and enjoys special protection of the state.

These areas all share some common features, such as their spectacular scenery, although each national park has its own distinct character and natural and landscape features that make them unique.

There are well-developed tourist routes for every taste and age. Study all the offers and choose those that are interesting to you.

And don't forget your camera!

A brief overview of existing tourist routes in the national parks of Spain.

Alpine National Parks.

Fans of cross-country hiking and mountain hiking should pay attention to mountain tourism. In addition to excursion routes, you may be offered: fishing, mountain biking, extreme sports and even skiing.

The list of ideas for a holiday in the mountains is dominated by water sports and aerobic exercise, both in summer and winter.

The Picos de Europa (literally "Peaks of Europe") is a mountain range in northern Spain located in the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and León, home to endangered species such as the Cantabrian brown bear, capercaillie, and Spanish goat and chamois live only here.

Hiking routes will take you through the deepest gorges in Spain, waterfalls, mountain rivers and canyons.

The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, with about 200 lakes and ponds, is the largest in terms of total lake area in the Pyrenees. Crystal clear paradise in a peaceful, tranquil environment.

It is this park that is close in its properties to Russian nature, with its crystal clear waters and dense forests of black pine, spruce, birch and beech trees.

This is a real paradise for nature lovers.

In this mountain range, you will also find the oldest national park in the Pyrenees, Ordesa y Monte Perdido, crowned by the peak of Monte Perdido, 3355 meters above sea level, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Its contrasting landscapes will take your breath away. A great way to enjoy a holiday in the mountains by exploring its trails, a true paradise for nature lovers.

Here you can see the highest peaks in the Iberian Peninsula, Mulhacen (3482 m) and Veleta (3398 m). If you love alpine skiing, then this is the place for you. These mountains in Spain are the “home of skiing” and the Sierra Nevada ski resort, the southernmost of its kind in Europe.

the nature of Spain in the Sierra Nevada region is very reminiscent of the Altai region

Bird watching.

Spain is one of the European countries with extensive bird-watching areas, and in six national parks you can observe birds in the wild at fairly close range.

The main colonies of seabirds build their nests in the Islas Atlánticas National Park (Marine National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia).

The park consists of four clusters of rocky islands, with cliffs on the west side overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, beautiful beaches on the east side, and views of the estuaries.

In addition to birds, you can see other types of marine life here.

The park's islands were declared a National Park in 2002 as one of the finest examples of a marine ecosystem.

The biodiversity of the Doñana National Park (in Doñana is a nature reserve in Andalusia, in the south of Spain, in the provinces of Huelva and Seville), also has a UNESCO World Heritage designation: it is the only place in Europe that provides habitat for numerous migratory birds and other animals, such like the Iberian lynx.

National Parks National Park Tablas de Daimiel or Cabañeros, are located in Castile-La Mancha (Spain's wine region), where you can explore their wetlands and forests, inhabited by a variety of bird life species, intersected by numerous walking paths and routes.

The same can be said about Monfrague National Park of Extremadura, home to the world's largest colony of black vultures.

Contrasts of the Canary Islands

In addition to the luxury real estate of the Canary Islands, you will be surprised to discover other riches here - magnificent natural contrasts in their maximum splendor of the national parks of the Canary Islands.

Return “to the roots” of humanity, to the enchanting beauty of one of the last, true relict Mediterranean subtropical forests preserved to this day in its original form in the Garajonay Nature Reserve, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Only here, on a small island of the Canary Islands archipelago, this wonderful green splendor has been preserved!

The craters of volcanoes and hardened lava in Timanfaya create magnificent “lunar” landscapes.

The Taburiente National Park, with its almost vertical gorges and cliffs and dormant volcano, forms one of the most spectacular geological monuments in the world, with elevation changes of almost 3000 meters.

Remember that each national park has its own routes and rules for visiting. Some parks have restrictions on tourist visits, both by time of day and the total number of one-time stays.

But, as already written above, national parks will reveal to you a completely different side of Spain, which differs significantly from the front facades of cities and resort amenities of the “beach” Spanish coasts.

It is unique, and the country’s authorities are making a lot of efforts to preserve it. Evidence of this is the numerous nature reserves and national parks in Spain. They are located in almost all regions of the country. The list of protected areas and national parks is quite extensive: there are fifteen parks, and more than four hundred nature reserves in the country.

We will present to your attention the most beautiful and most visited nature reserves and national parks in Spain. The list looks like this:

• Islas.
• Atlanticas de Galicia.
• Monfrague.
• Aigues Tortes y Lago San Mauricio.
• Cabaneros.
• Sierra Nevada.
• Picos de Europa.
• Timanfaya.
• Garajonay.
• Tablas Daimiel Cabrera.
• Doñana.
• Sierra de Guadarrama.
• Ordesa y Monte Perdido.
• Teide.
• Taburiente.

We will introduce you to some of them in more detail.

Ordesa and Monte Perdido

One of the very first parks in Spain, which is still recognized today as one of the most beautiful. Back in 1918, Ordesa Park was founded in the north of Aragon. It occupied an area of ​​156 square meters. km. In 1977 it was merged with Monte Perdido. The park is considered a striking example of the nature of the Pyrenees: here you can admire the picturesque mountain peaks, the canyons of Anisio and Ordesa, the gorges of Font Blanc, Anisclo, Escuain and Desfiladero de las Cambras, see the frozen Lake Marbore, the picturesque waterfalls of Carriata, Cotatuero and Cole de -Caballo.

The foothills of the mountains are covered with dense beech and poplar forests, and mixed forests begin above. Interestingly, the park’s fauna is so rich that periodically shooting of some animal species is allowed here to maintain the balance of the ecosystem.

The park adjoins the famous Pyrenees, forming a huge protected area with numerous walking, equestrian and ecological trails.

Doñana (Coto de Doñana)

This national park in Spain, located near Cadiz in Andalusia, is the largest and most important in the southern part of the country. More than 600 sq. The Guadalquivir delta's km of oak and pine forest, dunes, freshwater lagoons and marshes comprise the largest roadless area in Western Europe.

The park is home to a huge number of birds: herons and flamingos, rare species of birds of prey, thirty families of the Spanish lynx, which is recognized as an endangered species and the equally rare Spanish vulture, a large number of migratory birds. By decision of UNESCO, the park received the status of a biosphere reserve of world importance. Now you can visit the park only as part of excursion groups on a boat. It is also possible to take part in a short organized tour, which runs from April to September.

Aigues Tortes y Lago San Mauricio

The national park of Spain is located in the Catalan Pyrenees, at the foot of Anette. This is the only park in Catalonia that protects a huge (140 sq. km) and picturesque mountainous area, almost four hundred glacial lakes, amazing glacial valleys and many waterfalls. All this splendor is covered with dense coniferous forests and delightful alpine meadows.

Tourists are interested in the fate of the park. It was opened in 1955. Between 1986 and 1996, its territory was significantly expanded, but the park is still not recognized by the international community due to hydroelectric works that are being carried out on this land.

Sierra Nevada

Many reserves and national parks in Spain, the names of which are well known to specialists, were created in the second half of the 20th century. The Sierra Nevada received national park status in 1999. It was founded in the Granada region to protect the mountain range located in the very south of Europe. This national park in Spain is famous for its rare wild flowers, of which there are over two thousand species, fifty of which are local endemics.

The fauna in this area is also diverse. The Spanish ibex has become the hallmark of these places. The world of birds is represented by more than 60 species. There are many different insects in the Sierra Nevada. For example, more than one hundred and twenty species of butterflies have been recorded here. Surprisingly, this place is located next to major industrial centers of Andalusia and first-class mountain resorts. That is why this area is very popular among ecotourists and fans of active recreation, who are attracted by the unique local landscapes.

Delta del Ebro

The famous national park of Spain, covering an area of ​​320 sq. km, is located in Catalonia, on the border of the popular resort areas - Costa del Assar and Costa Dorada. The overwhelming number of nature reserves and national parks in Spain are famous for their rich flora and fauna. A unique flora and fauna has formed in the Ebro, perfectly adapted to life on the sandy, saline soils of the coastal zone.

There are more than five hundred species of plants in the park, over three hundred species of cormorants, sea terns and herons, seagulls and others). In addition to the park, there is an ecological station in this area. Here you can visit a small aquarium, an ornithological museum where river cruises are held.

Picos de Europa

An amazing country - Spain. Nature reserves and national parks occupy vast areas here, and it is planned to open new protected areas. This national park was opened in 1995 in the provinces of Cantabria, Asturias and Leon. He was the first to receive national status. An example of nature reserves and national parks in Spain is this magnificent park, which is recognized as the most visited nature reserve in Europe.

It includes deep gorges and high mountains that attract tourists from all over the world. Hiking routes into mysterious caves and along mountain slopes leave an unforgettable experience. You can travel here not only on foot, but also by mountain bike, snowshoes and canoe. Numerous excursion programs offer ziplining into gorges, paintball games, rock climbing and many other adventures.

If you don’t really like hiking, you can use the Fendete cable car, which will take you to an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level.

Reserves

In Spain today there are more than four hundred natural reserves that protect the country's main ecosystems.

Aiguamolls de L'Empordà

Between Rosas and L'Escala, around the bay of the same name, is located one of the most popular nature reserves in sunny Spain. It was founded in 1983 after a long campaign that was designed to stop the construction of a residential complex in the area of ​​the system of lagoons and swamps, which stretches between the mouths of the Fluvia rivers and Muga.

Once upon a time, wetlands occupied almost the entire coast of Roses Bay. They were drained to eliminate the source of malaria and for farmland. But from time immemorial, birds have nested in these places; the territory was an important “transit zone” for a huge number of birds on their migration routes. In addition, it was an important historical area, where unique ancient monuments were located.

Taking into account all these arguments, the Catalan Parliament in 1983 almost unanimously gave these lands to the organizers of the natural park and reserve.

Garrocha

The volcanic zone, covering an area of ​​one hundred and fifty square kilometers, is one of the most unusual nature reserves in the country. In the upper reaches of the Fluvia River in Catalonia, on an ancient volcanic plateau that is covered with dense forests, there are 26 small nature reserves, including three volcano reserves, and many old towns and villages.

Interesting fact: 98% of the park is privately owned. There are more than seventy volcanoes here, forty of which are active; the last eruption was about twelve thousand years ago. This is evidenced by more than twenty frozen lava flows and about a thousand thermal springs. And in recent history, only mud flows from craters are noted.

1173 species of flowers and shrubs alone grow here, and 258 species of animals (vertebrates) live here. And the landscapes and landscape of Garrotxa are recognized as one of the most beautiful in Spain.

Gran Canaria

The reserve occupies about 40% of the entire area of ​​the island of the same name and covers all ecosystems - from mountain tops to marine zones, including valleys that are used for agriculture. It’s not for nothing that the reserve is called a “miniature continent” - so many different types of climate, landscapes, and natural complexes are recorded here that are difficult to find anywhere else in such a small space: the island’s area is only 1,560 sq. km.

Thirty-two protected areas form part of the reserve, including the amazing 250-hectare Maspalomas Dunes Reserve. The dune area here stretches for three kilometers. In the reserve you can visit the Nublo rural park and see a rare rock monolith, the height of which is 80 meters. Excursions to the Doramas jungle, Tamadaba, Asuaje, Pino Santo gorges, Cueva Pintada park, two amazing reptile parks and other unique sites are very popular among tourists.

We briefly introduced you to the national parks and reserves of Spain. Of course, this is only a small part of them. We hope that you will have the opportunity to visit this hospitable sunny country and see the stunning natural beauty with your own eyes.