 The
Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park is placed on the North
of Spain, in the heart of the Pyrenees. This park belongs to
the autonomous region of Aragón and is located at the North
end of the Huesca province, between the cities of Torla and
Bielsa.
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Ordesa
y Monte Perdido National Park (see also Parque nacional de
Ordesa y Monte Perdido), is an IUCN Category II National Park
situated in the Pyrenees of Huesca, Aragón (Spain). It was created
August 16 of 1918 by a Royal Decree which declared Ordesa Valley a
National Park of 21 square kilometres of extension. In July 13 of
1982 it was enlarged to the 156.08 km² it has today and its
official name changed to Parque nacional de Ordesa y Monte
Perdido. It's included in the Biosphere Reserve of Ordesa-Viñamala
declared by UNESCO in 1997.
Its
territory includes the municipalities of Torla, Broto, Fanlo,
Tella-Sin, Puertólas and Bielsa.
Description
The
National park constitutes a geographic unit. Its orography is
dominated by the calcareous mass (the biggest of Europe) of the
massiff of the Three Sorores, Treserols, whose greater
elevation is the Monte Perdido, from which in a more or less radial
form descend a series of impressive mountainous crests and glacial
valleys . The most characteristic and symbolic one is the Ordesa
Valley, drained by the river Arazas, origin of the National Park,
that is opened in Southwestern direction, but also is important the
Tube of Añisclo, that is drained by the river Bellós, in South
direction, the Gorges of Escuaín, drained by the river Yaga, in
Southeastern direction and the Valley of Pineta, drained by the
river Cinca. Although not all of it belongs to the National Park
because it's already in French territory and belogs to the Pyrenees
National Park, the Valley and Circus of Gavarnie is another
impressive glacial cirque that has the highest waterfall of Europe,
with more than 400 meters of vertical fall.
The
basic morphology of the Park is originated by the fold and alpine
elevation of the Tertiary Era, subsequently molded by the glacial
erosion during the Quaternary Era, giving rise to a series of
circuses and valleys like the Valley of Ordesa and the Valley of
Pineta. Nowadays a glacier continues existing in the North face of
the Monte Perdido, although continues in retreatment. Most of the
rock of the National Park is limestone. Superimposed to the most
evident and old glacial erosion is the karstic transformation of the
landscape, with multiple caves, canyons, chasms, etc.. most
important of them are the Tube of Añisclo and the Gorges of Escuaín,
in which appear glacial circuses that subsequently are boxed in deep
gorges.
Highest
areas of the park (above 2,000 m AMSL) are extremely arid, all
precipitation is fastly gone inside the karstic system, while the
bottoms of the valleys are dominated by a lush vegetation of beeches
and firs that give place to the black pine when the height
increases.
Many
illustrious persons have been fond of these places and have given
word of their virtues. People like Luciano Briet, Soler i Santaló
or Lucas Mallada contributed to promote the place and grant it the
protected status.
Flora
Up
to 1,500-1,700 meters AMSL many forests of beeches (Fagus
sylvatica), Abies alba, pines (Pinus sylvestris), oaks (Quercus
subpyrenaica), and a lesser extent of birches (Betula pendula),
ashes (Fraxinus excelsior), willows (Salix angustifolia). From there
up to 2,000 m the black pine (Pinus uncinata) dominates. Up to 1,800
m bushes of boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) are found. In the high
meadows from 1,700 to 3,000 meters there are numerous endemisms:
como Borderea pyrenaica, Campanula cochleariifolia, Ramonda
myconi, Silene borderei, Androsace cylindrica, Pinguicula
longifolia, Petrocoptis crassifolia, etc. The Edelweiss
(Leontopodium alpinum), is one of the symbols of the National Park.
More
information about National Park flora abailable in:
Also
in the oficial Web of the flora and vegetation of Ordesa and Monte
Perdido National Park
Fauna
The
most important species of the Park was the bucardo or
Pyrenean Ibex , sadly extinguished in 2,000 in spite of the
preservation efforts. Other species of goats are the sarrio or
rebeco of the Pyrenees. There are other species like the marmot,
boar and the Pyrenean Desman or water-mole (Galemys pyrenaicus).
Great birds like the royal eagle, the common vulture, hawks, and the
royal owls.
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