Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park

The National Park Aigüestortes de Sant Maurici is located in the Catalan Pyrenees. It was established in 1955 and is the only national park in the autonomous region of Catalonia.

The name Aigüestortes goes back to the meanders of Riu de Sant Nicolau (Spanish: Río de San Nicolás ) and means something like " winding waters". Estany de Sant Maurici is the Catalan name of a lake in the park, which is called in Spanish Lago de San Mauricio.

The National Park is located in the central area of the Pyrenees in the province of Lleida on parts of the Comarcas territory ( counties ) Alta Ribagorça, Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà and Val d' Aran. It includes the municipalities of Espot and Barruera. We can distinguish two different climatic regions. In the West ( Aigüestortes ) prevails an atlantic embossed high mountain climate, the precipitation flows into the tributaries of the Noguera Ribagorzana. In the east, the climate is continental rather, tributaries of the Noguera Pallaresa is flow into the lake Estany de Sant Maurici to.

The largest part of the national park is over 1,000 m, some of the peaks are higher than 3,000 m. There are numerous cirque lakes that were created during the ice ages. Two valleys, are striking: in the west the valley of Sant Nicolau with its meadows and meanders, to the east the valley of the Riu Escrita with the Estany de Sant Maurici.

Because of the large differences in height in the National Park there are many different ecosystems: meadows, fields, deciduous hardwood forests in the lower layers, evergreen coniferous forests at an average altitude, alpine meadows and rocks at the highest altitudes. Since the National Park is partially inaccessible and protected for many years, remained his plants and wildlife in a relatively natural state. However, man has also left its mark here. The protected area is now used for tourism and pastoralism. Its lakes serve as a reservoir for hydroelectric power plants.

• 4.1 vegetation
• 4.2 Fauna

• 6.1 Administration
• 6.2 Tourism
• 6.3 livestock
• 6.4 Hydropower

Extent and structure of the park

The National Park covers an area of ​​40 852 ha, with an inner and an outer protection zone can be distinguished. The inner zone, the actual National Park is 14,119 hectares. The 26,733 ha of the outer zone they are intended to prevent the influence of man.

The inner zone belongs essentially to the communities in the Vall de Boi and Espot. On the side of Boi distinction is the valley of Sant Nicolau and the upper reaches of the river Noguera de Tor. Between the Lakes and Llong Llebreta the Sant Nicolau flows into the characteristic meanders. You incurred when former glacial lakes filled with sediment.

In Espot are the Riu Escrita and Estany de Sant Maurici. This lake is utilized as other lakes in the park as a reservoir for a pumped storage power plant. The lake lies at the foot of the imposing mountain range Els Encantats (Spanish: Los Encantados ). The view of the Estany de Sant Maurici with the Encantats in the background is one of the "trademark" of the park.

In the outer zone the communities Vielha and Vilamòs located in the comarca of Val d' Aran, and Vall de Boi Vilaller in Alta Ribagorça, Torre de Cabdella in Pallars Jussà and Espot, Alt Àneu Esterri d' Àneu, La Guingueta d' Àneu and Sort the Pallars Sobirà. In this border zone there are areas of great natural beauty and of high value for nature conservation. These include the forest of Mata de València d' Àneu, the valleys of Gerber and Cabanes, the glacial cirques of Colomers, Tord and Saboredo, the banks of the Valarties, the lakes of Cabdella and Gemena, the summit of Montardo and many others.

History

The settlement of the Pyrenean high altitudes began with the end of the last ice age. In the area of ​​today's national parks, no settlement could keep forever. However, the use of pressure reached in the 19th and early 20th century its climax when the deforestation increased and the use of water power began.

Already in the year 1932 ( an urban planning design for the Barcelona area ) was considered the establishment of a national park in the highlands of the Pyrenees in the Pla Macia. However, he was reported as Parque Nacional Aiguas Tortas y Lago de San Mauricio until October 21, 1955 by a decree of the Ministry of Agriculture on an area of ​​9,851 hectares initially. At that time he was the fifth national park in Spain and according to the National Park of Ordesa y Monte Perdido, the second in the Pyrenees.

The adoption of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia 1979, the Generalitat de Catalunya was responsible for the establishment and management of protected areas. On March 30, 1988, she suggested an extension of the national park, which should also regulate the traditional uses new. The Law 22/90 of 28 December 1988, the boundaries of the outer zone, the composition of its board and the permitted uses were redefined. On 5 July 1996 the park to its present area of ​​14,119 ha has been extended.

Geography

On the side of the Noguera de Tor:

• Riu de Sant Nicolau
• Riu de Sant Martí (Spanish: Río de San Martín )

On the side of Garona:

• Valarties
• Aiguamoix
• Garona de Ruda

In the valley of the Noguera Pallaresa:

• Riu Cabanes
• Riu Escrita
• Flamisell

Lakes

In the national park there are about 80 lakes. The most important are: Llebreta, Serrader, Contraig, Llong, Mussoles, Ribera, Major, Dellur, Redó, Negre de Portarró, Ratera, Barbs, Munyidera, Gran d' Amitges, Sant Maurici, Negre de Peguera.

In the northern part of the outer zone are the lakes Rius, Tort de Rius de Mar, Restanca, Monge, Travessany, Mangades, Major de Colomers, Obago, Major de Saboredo, Saboredo de Dalt, Sant Gerber, Xemeneia, or Negre de Cabanes.

To the south lie Pesso, Castieso, Marto, Eixerola, Cubesso, Neriolo, Tort, Saburo, Vidal, Colomina, Frescau, Reguera, Fosser, Ribanegra, lettuce, Morera and Gento.

Mountains

Highest mountains

• Pic de Comaloformo (Spanish: Pico de Comaloformo ), 3,033 m
• Herbasabina North (Spanish Herbasabina Norte), 3,015 m
• Punta Alta, 3,014 m

Best-known summit

• Montardo, 2,833 m
• Gran Tuc de Colomers, 2,933 m
• Gran Encantat (Spanish: Gran Encantado ), 2,747 m
• Tuc de Ratera, 2,857 m
• Pic de Peguera (Spanish: Pico de Peguera ), 2,942 m
• Pic de Subenuix (Spanish: Pico de Subenuix ), 2,949 m

The most impressive peaks are Peguera ( 2,982 m) and the Encantats ( 2,745 m)

Biology

The rugged mountains of the high Pyrenees allow the occurrence of very different ecosystems. This is partly because of the differences in height, on the other hand to the orientation of the slopes. At all altitude levels there are small, shady ecosystems, such as the banks of fast-flowing streams or quiet lakes.

Vegetation

On large surfaces are dense coniferous forests, which are composed mainly of silver fir, Scots pine and mountain pine. In the montane zone are found primarily deciduous forests: birch, oak, aspen and beech. In addition, there are also pine and fir forests. The fir forests included in their shrub layer and the rowan (Sorbus aucuparia ) and its distant cousin Dwarf Whitebeam (Sorbus chamaemespilus ).

In the subalpine zone 1700-2300 m altitude, the mountain pine is sparse forests with a shrub layer of rhododendron, blueberries, juniper, bearberry the rights and broom.

On the Alpine meadows above 2300 m, there are no more trees, but you can find there numerous species of the alpine flora, such as gentian, saxifrage or buttercup species. The species in the numerous lakes and bogs are very important. Many of the plants at this altitude level are endemic to the Pyrenees, others have a boreo - alpine or arcto - alpine area of ​​distribution.

Fauna

In the national park is home to 200 animal species, of which almost two thirds are birds. Of particular note are the presence of capercaillie, golden eagle, bearded vulture, ptarmigan, black woodpecker and wall creepers. You can also find passerines such as jays, White Wagtail, Snow Finch, Treecreeper and thrush.

Notable mammals include chamois, wild boar, ermine, pine martens, dormice, squirrels and the Alpine Marmot (which was settled by humans ). In the two main rivers, the Sant Nicolau and the Escrita, there are trout. Along its banks the Pyrenean Desman lives. Above 2000 m, in the lakes and streams of the high mountains, the rare Pyrenean brook salamander occurs. The frog, however, is very common. There are also reptiles such as the Yellow-green whip snake.

Geology and climate

The inside of the national park provides a good example of the Pyrenees geology. The granite and slate rocks that dominate the area date back to the Paleozoic. The geological character of the central Pyrenees is characterized by both the increase during the Tertiary, the other by the glaciation during the Quaternary. The U-shape of the trough valleys is an impressive example of the erosive power of the ice age glaciers. Today the water is the most important landscape-shaping factor. It made the meanders of the Riu Sant Nicolau arise, as well as the numerous lakes. The lakes in the National Park are the most important lakes area of ​​the Pyrenees.

The mean temperature in the area of the National Park varies between 0 and 5 ° C. Winter in the mountains is very cold and the temperatures for four months at the highest altitudes below freezing. The annual precipitation is 900-1300 mm and spread over about 150 rainy days. At least 100 of these 150 days the precipitation falls as snow.

Use

The areas of the national parks are in the state, municipal or private ownership. The master plan of the park regulates the use of its natural resources. In addition to tourism are the traditional uses, such as they were common before the establishment of the National Park, admitted.

Management

The National Park is managed according to a management plan, which was adopted by the Catalan Parliament. Governing bodies are the Patronato del Parque and the Comisión Permanente, which have their seats in Boi and Espot. The administrative responsibility of the Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Hábitat, Dirección General del Medio Ambiente Natural, Servicio de Parques.

Tourism

The National Park Aigüestortes de Sant Maurici is very important for the tourism in the region, especially during the summer months. The visitors must adhere to strict rules to protect the nature. Within walking distance one must move freely in the park, but the tents, collecting plants, hunting and fishing are not allowed. Access by private vehicles is not permitted, only taxis are allowed Espot or the Valley of Boi from visitors move into the park.

During the summer, many hikers populate all the way in the national park. The Pyrenean GR 11 runs from the Atlantic coast to Cap de Creus through the middle of the park.

Within the boundaries of the national park you can stay in mountain huts ( in Catalan " refugi " ), but these are cultivated only during the summer months.

Livestock

The high mountain grass in the park today were used for centuries by shepherds for grazing. The protection of the local economy is not the only reason that was allowed in the National Park, the traditional pastoral economy. The centuries-old grazing has changed the ecosystem and the species composition of lawns sustainable.

Hydropower

Although there is no single hydropower plant in the park itself, will generate electricity with its water resources outside the protected zone. There are numerous underground channels in the National Park for this purpose.

The power plants that use the water of the park are:

• Hydropower plant Sant Maurici (Spanish San Mauricio ) in Espot, which is fed by the jammed in Estany de Sant Maurici water.
• Hydropower plant Sallente - Estany Gento in Torre de Cabdella that is powered with the help of a vast network of underground channels. They were built in the early 20th century and refer in addition to some smaller lakes also Cubieso, Mariolo, Tort, and Saburo de Mar with a. The power plant Sallente - Lake Gento works reversible, so can be used in times of low electricity demand pump water from low-lying lake Sallente in the high altitude Estany Gento.
• Hydroelectric power plant in the valley of Caldes Boi, which in the dam of Cavallers uses accumulated water and the river Sant Nicolau.