 The
Cabañeros National Park is in the centre of the Iberian
Peninsula between the provinces of Ciudad Real and Toledo and
nestled in the Montes de Toledo mountains. |
The
Cabañeros National Park is in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula
between the provinces of Ciudad Real and Toledo, including the hills
of Toledo; it covers 41,805 hectares ha. extremely well preserved.
It is made up of low uncultivated hills offering pasture to a
variety of animals, interspersed with mountains. Cabañeros is the
only spanish National Park which supports Mediterranean forest-type.
This area has adapted to the adverse environmental conditions
imposed by low quality soil and harsh climatic conditions. The
partial maintenance of the natural structure of the canopy and the
understory within the systems has preserved several elements of
biodiversity.
Its
flora include a wide variety of trees and bushes. The Mediterranean
forest-type ecosystems of this National Park is constitutes of
mainly mixed formations of Quercus ilex. Cabañero's dehesas are
important biodiversity hotspots and constitute habitat for some
endangered species. Its structure depends on the area, soil
conditions and topographic relief; pure pasture alternates with
small croplands, open woodlands with pasture-crop-shrub understory,
shrubland, or pure dense oak woodlands.
The
National Park contains some 200 different bird species; it is
especially important for black vulture (second biggest colony in the
world, with about 130 pairs). Other species that can be seen are
back stork, white stork, black-winged kite, golden eagle, imperial
eagle, and eagle owl (achieving densities that are probably
Spain’s highest). It also contains 45 species of mammals,
including deer, wild boar, and the Iberian lynx.
How
to reach the Park
From
Toledo, the Park is reached by following the N-401 and N-403 as far
as "El Molinillo" petrol station. Here there are two
possibilities: one of them is to continue by following the same road
(N-403) as far as Pueblonuevo de Bullaque, Santa Quiteria and Alcoba
de los Montes; the other villages located around the National Park
are reached by following the CM-4017 as far as Horcajo de los Montes
or as far as Navas de Estena, after passing through Retuerta de
Bullaque.
Advice
of interest to visitors
- The Park has
several entrances; the most convenient being at Horcajo de los
Montes and Navas de Estena.
- Visits to the
perimeter of the park are free. Visits to the main parts of the
park need booking, and visit can be guided on foot or in a jeep.
The park´s offices supply information.
- Each of the
different areas belonging to the Park has very individual
features. All of them deserve to be visited, each for its own
particular characteristics.
- Pueblonuevo de
Bullaque and Horcajo de los Montes have a visitors' centres, and
there are some guided itineraries which provides the best
opportunity for a complete visit.
- The best time of
the year for a visit is the spring or the autumn.
- A good pair of
binoculars and a camera should be part of the visitor's
equipment.
Source:http://www.parquesnaturales.com/ |
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