Picos de Europa National Park
The National Park Picos de Europa (Spanish Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa, Asturian: Picos d'Europa ) is located in the north of Spain in the Autonomous Communities of Asturias, Castile and León and Cantabria. It is equipped with 64 660 hectares is the largest national park in Spain and extends in a west-east direction over about 40, in north-south direction over 20 kilometers. From the Cantabrian coast, he is only about 15 kilometers away.
Geography
The National Park covers parts of all three mountain ranges of the Cantabrian Mountains, namely the Western ( Cornión ), the Central ( Urrieles ) and the Eastern Massif ( Andara ). The mountains consist of limestone, which is heavily karstified. There are some very profound caves, including the 1589 -meter-deep Torca del Cerro.
On the north side the climate is Atlantic, on the south Atlantic- continental. A Mediterranean microclimate can be found in places in the east and southeast. The annual rainfall is on average 2000 mm, the maximum rainfall falls in the period from November to January.
Vegetation
The collinear height level reaches up to approximately 500 meters. There agriculture is possible in the forests dominated by deciduous trees such as holm oak and other oak species, ash, large-leaved lime, sweet chestnut, wild cherry, or elm. In the heights of 500-1750 meters extends the montane altitudinal zone. There are growing oak, sessile oak and chestnut. With increasing height, the oaks are displaced from the copper beech. In addition to the beech stand here and yew, holly, rowan, rowan, hazel and downy birch.
Furthermore, in the height level 1600-1800 meters to 2000 meters and 2200, the subalpine zone in which to thrive no more trees located. The vegetation consists of alpine oligotrophic grasslands, dwarf juniper, bearberry, the heather - type Daboecia cantabrica or broom - type Genista legionensis. In the alpine zone above 2200 meters in height no more shrubs occur.
Wildlife
After they were formerly almost completely exterminated by hunting, the stock of Pyrenean chamois in the National Park is approximately 5000 copies again today near the border of viability. The chamois are therefore hunted again for inventory adjustment since 1995. In addition to deer, red deer, red fox and wild boar there also occur the Castroviejo hare, the European wildcat, the small genet, the otter and the Pyrenean Desman. The number of wolves in a national park is estimated at about 20 copies. Brown bears roam the area, but they do not form a stable population.
In the National Park Picos de Europa live golden eagle, griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, serpent eagles and eagle owls. The bearded vulture is sometimes observed, there is a project to its reintroduction. The corvids are very numerous, for example, Chough, Chough, Raven and Crow. Among the forest-dwelling birds only black woodpecker, middle spotted woodpecker and the Cantabrian subspecies of capercaillie be mentioned. In the highlands of Water Pipit, Wheatear, Snow Finch, wall creeper, Alpine accentor and thrush can be observed. At watercourses of the kingfisher and dippers can be found. Also worth mentioning are the occurrence of alpine newt and Nordiberischer viper. In the National Park comes before a variety of butterflies, including the rare Loreley Dickkopffalter.
History
The Picos de Europa is an extension of 1918 furnished Covadonga National Park dar. The Covadonga National Park was the first national park in Spain. Originally, it included only the western massif of the Picos de Europa in the provinces of Asturias and Leon, an area of 16,925 hectares. Since the establishment of the National Park Picos de Europa on 30 May 1995, parts of the Massive Urrieles and Andara part of the territory of the national park.
Infrastructure
The National Park is easily accessible and has open all year round visitor centers in Buferrera / Lagos de Covadonga ( Pedro Pidal ), Cangas de Onís (Casa Dago ) and Posada de Valdeón ( Oficina de Valdeón ). The National Park Authority is based in Oviedo.
To the east of the National Park Carretera N -621 from Unquera ( Cantabria ) passes by Riano (León ). In the west, the N -625 Cangas de Onis Riano with north-west of the national park. The AS -114 heads north along the National Park and connects Cangas de Onis with Panes. The National Park or the villages in its vicinity are served by buses from Oviedo and Santander.
The highlands of the Picos de Europa are the cable car at Fuente Dé, or funicular from Bulnes for visitors within easy reach. For walkers are ten mountain cabins.