Peñalara Natural Park

The Natural Park Peñalara (Spanish: Parque Natural de Peñalara ) is a natural park of 768 hectares in the central Sierra de Guadarrama, a part of the Iberian vagina Mountains in Spain. The highest point is at a height of 2430 msnm Pico Peñalara in the northwest of the park. The park is adjacent to the community Rascafría in the northwest of the Autonomous Community of Madrid. In the park there are three small U-shaped valleys, moraines two and a chain of lakes, whose formation is due to glaciers. The area was declared in June 1990 by the Community of Madrid to the nature park.

The vegetation of the park is made up of shrubs in the higher mountain areas, pastures and forest pine forests along the lower notes. In the highest altitudes alpine grasses and pure rock dominate. Commonly observed species of birds in this area are, for example, the Bluethroat, wheatear, the Dunnock and the thrush. Among the birds of prey of vultures and golden eagles are remarkable. In addition, small mammals and amphibians as well as in the lakes of fire salamanders occur. It can be reached through multiple paths in the park, all of which lead to the Puerto de Coto ( Coto - pass ), the main tourist center of the region. The park, which is very crowded on holidays, offers opportunities for hiking, climbing, and during the winter for skiing.

• 3.1 Information
• 3.2 out walking

Geography

The Natural Park Peñalara located in the southeast of the Peñalara Summit, which is the highest point of the Sierra de Guadarrama, with its 2,430 meters. The western boundary is determined by the ridge that stretches from south- southwest to north-northwest and by the Pico Peñalara in the north, as well as the " Dos Hermanas " ( German: Two Sisters ) is formed in the south. The deepest point of the park has an elevation of 1,640 meters and is located in the eastern part.

The gradient of the slope facing south-east, with the maximum elevations in the West are. In the northern area of the comb for two distinct rocks are of difficult access. The northernmost of these is the " Risco de los Pájaros " ( German: bird rock ) with a height of 2,334 meters. A little further south is the " Risco de los Claveles " ( clove rocks ), which, at 2,388 meters the second highest peak in the entire Sierra de Guaderrama. The remaining elevations are less prominent. South of it is the summit of Peñalara and continuing along this axis follows the " Hermana Mayor" ( Big Sister ) with a summit of 2,285 meters above sea level, from where you have a good view of the peaks and the lakes. The " Hermana Menor " ( little sister ) stretches out with its 2,271 meters on the southern edge of the park. Apart from this ridge there is southeast of the Hermana Menor approximately midway between the Puerto de Coto ( Coto - pass) and the cirque of Peñalara the rock " Los Quesos " with a rounded summit of 2,032 meters.

One of the most interesting places in the park is formed by glacier cirques of Peñalara little east of the center between the summit of Peñalara and Hermana Mayor. It is located approximately at 2000-2050 meters, the enclosing walls of granite rise from about 2,200 to about 2,400 meters. In addition there are two other mountain basin, but of smaller size.

Hydrographic

In the park there are about 20 small lakes whose formation is due to glaciers. They are all located south of the large rock walls in a relatively flat area of ​​2000-2200 meters above sea level. One of the major is " Laguna de los Pájaros " ( lagoons of birds ) called and is located in the northeast of the rock of the same name. 500 meters on a path to the south there are the lagoons of cloves as well as several small water holes between the rocks and the eastern slope of cloves Peñalara. Further south, in the mountain of the boiler Peñalara is the largest lake in the park, the " Laguna de Peñalara " ( Peñalara Lake), also called " Laguna Grande " called (Great Lake ). It has a round shape and is the most visited by hikers.

About 500 meters further south-east is the less known " Laguna Chica " ( Small Lake ), from where you can enjoy an excellent view of the " Hermana Mayor", the summit of Peñalara and the mountain basin. All the lakes are frozen from December to about March.

In autumn and spring, so the wetter seasons, flow from the larger lakes several small streams, forming small waterfalls. From the " Laguna de los Pájaros " stems from the " Arroyo de los Pájaros " ( German: Bach of birds ), at the " Laguna de Peñalara " it behaves accordingly. All streams flow east and empty into the Lozoya.

Geology

The relief of the park provides a strong contrast between the respective northern and southern lowland. They both belong to the central plateau. In the era of carbon (in about 300-360 million years ago), a raw material of ancient granites and sediments begins to fold and convert - the origin of gneisses.

During the Permian ( 250-300 million years ago ), these materials break. It begins to penetrate the surface of magma, from which in turn emerge Granite. In the last phase of this age, the increase of the massif Peñalara done.

Since the end of the Paleozoic and during the Mesozoic ( 250-65 million years ago) it came through erosion to a removal of the mountain. During this last phase, there was a sea overflush, which released undersea territories to the surface (it is possible that the Sierra then only a small islet just above the sea was ) and sedimentary basins caused that covered the plains and were filled with debris that should be to limestone.

In the Cenozoic or Tertiary ( 65 to 1.8 million years ago) began again the events that led to the raising of the Peñalara massif and to block formation, as we find it today. The erosion of the rocky massif led to replenish the pool with arkoses. The glacier activity of the Quaternary ( 1.8 million years ago to today ) completed the formation of the cirque of Peñalara and its walls.

After the consolidation of the rivers of the surface gave their final shape. Today, granite is the predominant rock.