Nature in Andalucía Andalucía has 2 National Parks and 24 Natural Parks and along with several other specially protected areas, provide the ideal places to see nature and the flora and fauna of Andalucía at its best. Flora of Andalucía The flora of Andalucía is amazingly varied, mainly due to its incredible landscape and its geographic conditions. The lower mountain regions, with pastureland and large olive groves, plus a mixture of trees, grasses and herbs, form a good basis for wild animals and many types of birds. In the mountain regions a typically Mediterranean vegetation predominates, especially trees and bushes of middle and high growth such as halm oaks, cork oaks, mastic tree, juniper, pink rockrose and also aromatic plants and herbs such as rosemary, thyme and all kinds of heather. In the higher mountain regions and along the coastline there are different types of pines, while the Spanish fir can only be found in a few Natural Parks including Sierra de Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra Bermeja. In the river valleys, pastures and close to the lagoons grow ash, willows and poplar trees and in the humid areas of the region grow reeds and various type of cane. Bitter orange and lemon trees adorn the streets and gardens of many towns and cities in Andalucía and where cypress, fig and jacaranda trees, and numerous types of ornamental flowers and plants can also be found. Fauna of Andalucía The variety of animal life in these National Park and Natural Parks and other protected areas is legendary. Many animal species in danger of extinction such as the monk seal, the white-eyed gull, the imperial eagle, the pardelle lynx and the civet (a carnivor and predator), can still be found in Andalucía. In the forests and mountains are wild boars, deer, mountain goats, mufflons and many types of predatory birds. For numerous types of migratory birds the humid areas serve as nest and rest area. The pink flamingo for example can be found on the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon in the province of Málaga and in the Doñana National Park and on the marshlands of the Odiel River, in the province of Huelva. Different lizards and salamander, mostly harmless snakes and also scorpions inhabit the dry hot regions, and the ever present wall creeper can be found almost everywhere. And even in the larger towns and big cities it is possible to see swallows, different types of swifts, kestrels and also some storks. Bulls and the Iberians pig are bred on the larger pastures and the infamous Andalucian Horse, which is a crossbreed between the Spanish and Arab horse, can be found around the region of Jerez de la Frontera in the province of Cádiz. Sierra Nevada National Park The nearest National Park to Cortijo Huerto is the high alpine region of the Sierra Nevada National Park, mainly located in the province of Granada with the rest being in the province of Almería. Situated in the middle of the Sierra Nevada National Part are the more often than not snow-covered mountains of Mulhacén (at 3,482 metres above sea level) and Veleta (at 3,392 metres above sea level) and which are also the two highest peaks on the whole of the Iberian peninsula. The glaciers on the summits of these mountains were formed by erosion and are accordingly very arid and are climbing areas mainly for mountain goats. In the tree-covered middle and higher mountain regions the flora and fauna are very varied. One quarter of all plants that are located in Spain can be found in the Sierra Nevada National Park with over 60 plant growing exclusively here such as the Sierra Nevada Violet. There are numerous predatory birds such as the golden eagle, the goose vulture and the falcon, besides the tomtit, great tit and coal tit, the green woodpecker, the jaybird and various types of finches, larks and other birds. Foxes, weasels, badgers and civets roam through the wooded regions of the Sierra Nevada National Park. Please note that access to the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada National Park is only possible with special types of terrain vehicles or by foot, usually starting from the upper villages of Las Alpujarras such as Capileira or Trevélez.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 11:28:15 +0000
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