Cabo de Gata Natural Park – 2

 

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The 71,500 acres of the Cabo de Gata is volcanic in origin and comprises coastal dunes, steep cliffs, spectacular beaches, salt marshes, saltpans, arid steppe, dry riverbeds and a substantial marine zone. It is probably this ecological diversity that has led to the park being designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve. …
Other blogs by Robert Bovington:

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“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“bits and bobs”	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Cabo de Gata Natural Park – 1

by Robert Bovington

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The Cabo de Gata natural park is really rather splendid. It is one of my favourite areas in the province of Almería.  High temperatures and the lowest rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula have created a large semi-desert area but, despite its aridity, it is a nature lover’s delight. There are thousands of different species there including the pink flamingo and the rare Italian wall lizard. There are storks, cormorants and kestrels, puffins, oystercatchers and eagles. 
The extraordinary wealth of wildlife is unbelievable. There are many native species that are unique to the park including the pink snapdragon (antirrhinum charidemi), known locally as the dragoncillo del Cabo, which flowers all year round. Dwarf fan palms are to be found here. They are Europe’s only native palms. 
In the sea, there are grouper, bream, squid and prawn. There are also 260 species of seaweed, which are home to many varieties of crustacean, mollusc and fish.

Cabo de Gata Natural Park – flora & fauna

Cabo de Gata - Las Salinas © Robert Bovington

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The Cabo de Gata natural park is really rather splendid. It is one of my favourite areas in the province of Almería.
High temperatures and the lowest rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula have created a large semi-desert area but, despite its aridity, it is a nature lover’s delight. There are thousands of different species there including the pink flamingo and the rare Italian wall lizard. There are storks, cormorants and kestrels, puffins, oystercatchers and eagles.
The extraordinary wealth of wildlife is unbelievable. There are many native species that are unique to the park including the pink snapdragon (antirrhinum charidemi), known locally as the dragoncillo del Cabo, which flowers all year round. Dwarf fan palms are to be found here. They are Europe’s only native palms.
In the sea, there are grouper, bream, squid and prawn. There are also 260 species of seaweed, which are home to many varieties of crustacean, mollusc and fish
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Other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“bits and bobs”	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Sierra Nevada by Robert Bovington

The Sierra Nevada is the highest mountain chain in the Iberian Peninsula - higher than the Pyrenees and in all of Spain only Mount Teide in the Canaries is higher. At an impressive 3,482 metres above sea level, Mulhacén is the highest mountain in the range. There are fourteen other peaks over 3,000 metres!

Sierra Nevada nr Puerto de Ragua

The Sierra Nevada is both a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve, thanks to its rich ecological diversity and cultural heritage. The mountains teem with wildlife. Ibex share their habitat with wild boar and wildcats whilst in the air, owls, sparrow hawks and eagles soar. Further down, in the Alpujarras, squirrels, badgers, foxes, lizards and turtles are to be found and all manner of birds including robins, chaffinches, woodpeckers, wood pigeons and the hoopoe. In the rivers are trout and salmon. There is a pretty good range of flora too - a recent census revealed that 2100 different types of plant exist in the Sierra Nevada National Park! Chestnut trees, in particular, are abundant here and the local Alpujarran architecture incorporates chestnut beams.

Puerto de Ragua

The southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada are dotted with pueblos blancos - so called because of the whitewashed houses. This is the area known as the Alpujarras and it is popular with tourists who are drawn to the area because of the picturesque villages and the stunning mountain scenery.

Ohanes in the Alpujarra Almeriense