National Parks
Monfragüe National Park
By h.b. - Jul 11, 2007 - 7:58 PM
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The Monfragüe National Park covers an area of 18,396 hectares in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, and was the first natural space to be protected in the region. Declared a Natural Park in 1979, it was designated as a National Park in 2007, and has additional protection as Biosphere Reserve (2003), and a Special Protection Area for Birds.
A further 116,160 hectares provide a buffer protection zone around the park.
Described as an outstanding example of Mediterranean woodland, the park is formed by a valley, 30 kms long and 7kms wide, dissected by the Rivers Tajo and Tietar. Surrounding the valley are low-lying mountains, the highest of which scarcely reaches 800 metres. These mountains house a variety of ecosystems, from Mediterranean forest and scrub, woods of holm-oak, to reservoirs and streams, all of which support a rich variety of flora and fauna. Huge colonies of griffon vultures can be seen on the rocky outcrops, one of the three species of vulture which breed here: the world’s largest colony of black vultures is found in Monfragüe.
The rare Spanish Imperial Eagle and the Black Stork are just two of the protected species which breed here.
This bird watchers’ paradise is also home to the peregrine falcon, Bonelli’s eagle, and the eagle owl, with other species including kingfishers, the cormorant, and nightingales found down closer to the waters.
Deer and wild boar can be seen in the wooded pastureland, feeding amongst the groves of cork trees.
There is evidence also of the presence of man over the centuries, with the remains of a 12th century Arab Castle standing high above the waters of the Tajo River. There are wells dating from Roman times, and the Puente de Cardenal, the mediaeval bridge built in the fifteenth century mediaeval bridge to connect Plasencia with Jaraicejo.
Cave paintings, some dating as far back as 5,000 years BC, have been discovered in more than one hundred of the caves which are found in Monfragüe, the newest of Spain’s 14 National Parks.
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