 El
Parque Nacional Picos de Europa está situado en el norte de
la Península Ibérica, enclavado en la Cordillera Cantábrica
y entre Asturias, León y Cantabria.
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The
Picos de Europa National Park is a National Park in the Picos
de Europa mountain range, in northern Spain. It is shared by the
provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and León.
History
The
park was created 22 July 1918 but only the western part of today´s
park was created,then, it was called Parque Nacional de la Montaña
de Covadonga and had only an area of 16,925 ha. On May 30, 1995
the complete national park was created, with a total area of 64,660
ha.
It
was the first of the National Parks of Spain beside Ordesa y Monte
Perdido National Park in the Pyrenees.
On
July 9, 2003 UNESCO approved the Biosphere Reserve status for the
Picos de Europa National Park.
Geography
The
total surface of the park is 64,660 ha and is shared by Castilla y
León, Asturias, and Cantabria. The highest point of the park is in
Torrecerredo peak, 2,648 m AMSL and the lowest point is 75 m AMSL in
the River Deva, that is a vertical drop of 2,573 m.
The
geologic elements present in the park are due to glacial erosion in
the limestone masiffs that form the Cantabrian Mountains.
Flora
and Fauna
Several
types of woods can be found in the area, including beeches and
Cantabrian Holm Oaks . There are many protected species, like the
Capercaillie, the Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) or the
brown bear. The most representative animal of the Picos de Europa is
the izard, there are many sculptures around the park representing
it.
Picos
de Europa
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The
Picos de Europa (literally: "Peaks of
Europe") is a range of mountains some 20 km inland from
the northern coast of Spain, located in the Autonomous
Communities of Asturias, Cantabria and León, forming part of
the Cantabrian Mountains. It consists of three major massifs -
Central, Eastern and Western (also known as the Picos de Cornión).The
Central and Western massifs are separated by the mile-deep
(1.5 km deep) Cares Canyon (Garganta del Cares), |
The
peaks west of Potes. |
with
the village of Caín at its head. The waters in the Cares mostly
arise from cave resurgences. Much of the water in the Cares river
has been diverted into a hydroelectric scheme, with a closed canal
running in the northern wall of the gorge to Camarmeña. An access
path next to the canal provides a spectacular walk.
The
rocks are almost all limestone and glacial action has contributed to
create an extremely impressive area of alpine karst. The highest
peak is Torre de Cerredo, with an altitude of 2648 metres at 43°11′51″N,
4°51′06″W.
Many others reach altitudes of over 2400 m. The area is popular with
mountaineers, climbers and mountain walkers. There is a good network
of well-established mountain refuges. The best-known climbing site
is the Naranjo de Bulnes.
The
Picos de Europa contain many of Spain's deepest caves, including
Torca del Cerro (−1400 m), Torca los Rebecos (−1255 m)
and Sistema del Hito (Xitu) (−1135 m). Discovery of new caves
and their exploration still continues.
The
Picos support a dwindling group of shepherds who move up from the
valleys in the summer with their sheep, goats, cows, and an
occasional pig. The area is famed for its piquant cheeses, such as
Queso de Cabrales, traditionally matured in caves.
Bears
and wolves live in the remoter regions. Rebeccos (mountain deer) are
fairly frequently seen; Choughs and Buzzards are common.
Most
of the region is now protected as a single Picos de Europa
National Park in Cantabria, Asturias and León provinces of
Spain; the Asturian part was Spain's first National Park. Access is
via minor roads to each of the three massifs from the north and from
the south to the aerial tramway at Fuente Dé and to Caín at the
head of the Cares Canyon. |
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