National Parks
Islas Atlánticas de Galicia
By h.b. - Jul 11, 2007 - 7:52 PM
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Situated off the south west coast of Galicia, in north western Spain, the Islas Atlánticas National Park is made up of four groups of islands forming an important land-sea ecosystem for the many colonies of sea birds which live there. It was declared a National Park in 2002 and covers an area of 8,333 hectares, extending from the Arousa estuary, or ría, in the north, as far as the Vigo estuary in the south. Its island groupings – the Cíes, Ons, Cortegada and the Sálvora Islands – fall within the provinces of Pontevedra and A Coruña.
Only 1,194.8 hectares of its total area are on land.
The marine area is made up of a network of distinct habitats, from reefs and lagoons to shallow-water sandbanks, which support a diversity of flora and fauna: more than 200 species of algae are found here, including extensive underwater forests of sea kelp and beds of Maerl.
They provide an excellent breeding ground for numerous species of fish and molluscs: dolphins and porpoise have also been seen here.
The colonies of sea birds are dominated by thousands of seagulls, although the Park is also home to Spain’s largest breeding colony of the cormorant moñudo – the shag. The Arao, one of the most endangered and rarest birds in Spain, has been spotted here.
The archipelago of the Islas Cíes covers a sea area of 2,658 hectares and 433 hectares on land and was declared a natural park in 1980. It is at the mouth of the Vigo estuary and comprises three main islands and a number of smaller islets.
The archipelago formed by the Islas Ons and Onza and other islets is situated at the mouth of the Pontevedra estuary, with 470 hectares of land area and 2,171 hectares marine area.
The Sálvora archipelago, with 248 land hectares and 2,309 hectares of sea area is in the western part of the Arousa estuary, and is home to one of Spain’s largest colonies of yellow-legged gull.
The fourth island grouping formed by the Isla de Cortegada, Malveires and other nearby islands is in the Arousa estuary, and covers 43.8 hectares of land area. The laurel forest which extends for 2.5 hectares on Cortegada is considered as the largest in Europe.
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