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Here is a short description of the regional Flora and Fauna.
Andalusia is the Spanish region with the largest number of
protected areas. Besides the two National Parks Doñana
and Sierra Nevada, 24 Natural
Parks. All other protected areas (Reserves and Sites)
are listed below. |
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The andalusian Flora is
amazingly varied due to the landscape geographic conditions. The lower mountain regions, with
pastureland and the large
olive groves, a mixture of trees, grasses and herbs, form a
good basis for wild animals and birds. The main activity is cattle breeding. In the mountain regions (Sierras)
predominates a typically Mediterranean vegetation, especially trees and
bushes of middle and high growth such as halm oaks, cork oaks,
mastic tree, juniper, pink rockrose and also aromatic plants such as
rosemary, thyme
and all kinds of heather plants. In the higher mountain
regions and along the coastline there are different types
of pine, while the Spanish
fir can be found only in a few natural parks (Sierra de
Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves, Sierra Bermeja). In the
river valleys, pastures and close to the lagoons grow ash
trees, willows and poplars; in the humid areas grow reed
and cane plants.
Trees of bitter orange and lemon adorn the streets and gardens in
the cities. Further, there can be found cypress, fig and
jacaranda trees, and numerous types of ornamental flowers and
plants.
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The variety of animal life in the
Doñana National Park and in the other protected areas is legendary.
Many animal species in danger of extinction like the monk
seal, the white-eyed gull, the
imperial eagle, the
pardelle lynx or the civet (a carnivor and predator), can still be found in
Andalusia. In the
forests and mountains are wild boars, deers, mountain
goats, mufflons and many predatory birds. For numerous types of
migratory birds the humid areas serve as nest and rest area.
We can observe the Pink flamingo for example in the
lagoon of "Fuente de Piedra" (Málaga), in Doñana
National Park and in the marshlands of the Odiel river (Huelva).
Different lizards and salamander, mostly harmless snakes and also
scorpions inhabit the dry hot regions, and the ever present wall
creeper can be found almost everythere. Even in the
cities one can observe swallows, different types of swifts,
kestrels and also storks.
Bulls and the Iberian pig are bred on the large pastures. The Andalusian
horse (see also: Jerez de la Frontera), a crossbreed between Spanish and
Arab races, is famous all over the world.
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As early as 1969 the
large humid area of Doñana was declared a National Park.
Since 1999 Andalusia has had this as well as the National Park of
Sierra Nevada.
National
Park |
Province |
Hectares
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Doñana |
Huelva
Seville |
56.544
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Sierra
Nevada |
Granada
Almería |
86.208
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The Doñana
National Park is situated mainly in the
province of Huelva, a small section belongs to the province
of Seville. Three landscape forms are predominating:
the sandy dry heath land with its fixed dunes
("coto"), the moving dunes near the coastline
("dunas móviles") which are moving annually approximately five
metres,
and the wet marshland ("marisma"). The
humid area is an important rest and nest place particularly for migratory birds
(see fauna).
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"Las Marismas"
Half of the area consists of
wet, salty zones,
which accommodate different types of landscape and
vegetation: |
Vetas
Vetones |
high
areas, which do not flood |
Caños |
narrow water channels |
Ojos |
marsh
lakes |
Lucios |
depressions |
The high alpine region Sierra
Nevada National Park, belongs to 80% to the Granada province,
its rest to Almería.
With the snow-covered mountains Mulhacén (3,482 m) and Veleta
(3,392 m) the two highest peaks of the Iberian peninsula are
situated in the middle of this park. The
glaciers on the summits formed the landscape by erosion, it
is accordingly arid and serve mainly the mountain goats as a climbing
zone. In the tree-covered middle and higher mountain regions flora
and fauna are very varied. One quarter of all plants located in Spain
can be found in the National Park. Over 60 plant types reside exclusively
here (e.g. the Sierra Nevada violet). There are
numerous predatory birds like the golden eagle, the goose vulture and the
falcon, besides the tomtit, great tit and coal tit, the green woodpecker, the
jaybird and
various types of finches and larks. Foxes, weasels,
badgers and civets roam through the wooded regions.
The access to the high mountains is only possible with special vehicles, or
by foot, starting
from the upper villages of the Alpujarras (Capileira, Trevélez).
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Andalusia posesses beside the
two National Parks 24 so called Natural Parks ("Parques
Naturales"), which are also under special protection.
Natural
Park |
Province |
Hectares |
Cabo
de Gata-Níjar |
Almería |
49.512 |
Sierra
María-Los Vélez |
Almería |
22.562 |
Bahía
de Cádiz |
Cádiz |
10.522 |
De
la Breña y Marismas del Barbate |
Cádiz |
5.077 |
Del
Estrecho |
Cádiz |
18.931 |
Los
Alcornocales |
Cádiz
Málaga |
167.767 |
Sierra
de Grazalema |
Cádiz
Málaga |
53.411 |
Sierra
de Cardeña y Montoro |
Córdoba |
38.449 |
Sierra
de Hornachuelos |
Córdoba |
60.032 |
Sierra
Subbética |
Córdoba |
32.056 |
Sierra
de Baza |
Granada |
53.649 |
Sierra
de Castril |
Granada |
12.969 |
Sierra
de Huétor |
Granada |
12.128 |
Sierra
Nevada |
Granada
Almería |
178.849 |
Sierra
de Aracena y Picos de Aroche |
Huelva |
186.827 |
Entorno
de Doñana |
Huelva
Seville Cádiz |
53.835 |
Despeñaperros |
Jaén |
7.649 |
Sierra
Mágina |
Jaén |
19.961 |
Sierra
de Andújar |
Jaén |
74.774 |
Sierras
de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas |
Jaén |
209.920 |
Montes
de Málaga |
Málaga |
4.996 |
Sierra
de las Nieves |
Málaga |
20.163 |
Sierras
de Tejeda, Alhama y Almijara |
Málaga
Granada |
40.663 |
Sierra
Norte de Sevilla |
Seville |
177.484 |
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The
29 Natural Reserves ("Reservas Naturales") are mostly smaller humid or
wet areas, which serve above all the birds as resting and nest
refuge. For example in the lagoon "Fuente de Piedra"
(Málaga) we can find an important colony of the Pink flamingo.
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The so called Natural Sites ("Parajes
Naturales") are 32 smaller areas, characterised by special geological
attractions, such as the bizarre rock formations
"Torcal de Antequera" (Málaga)
or the desert area near Tabernas (Almería).
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