Other protected areas

Ten of the best natural parks to observe birds and wildlife in Spain

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Ten of the best natural parks to observe birds and wildlife in Spain

Spain has to rate as one of the best countries in in Europe for bird and wildlife watching. A destination with over 15 million hectares of protected areas and natural parks plus Spain is a strategic location on the avian migratory routes between Europe to Africa. So Ten of the best natural parks to observe … Read more

Ciudad Encantada in Cuenca

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La Ciudad Encantada in Cuenca
  • Region: Castilla la Mancha
  • Province: Cuenca
  • Declared a Natural Site of National Interest on June 11, 1929
  • Privately run

I first stumbled across the Ciudad Encantada in Cuenca whilst on a long road trip over 20 years ago and, I remember then being totally awed by the amazing formations on this 3 km stroll through pine forest and rock. Finally, many years later in July 2022, I had the opportunity to visit again with my family. What a treat, this place is as fantastic as I remembered!

Los barcos at the Ciudad Encantada
the scale of these formations can be seen when a person is also in the picture! In this case, my kids by “Los barcos” (The boats)

90 million years ago, this area was part of the shallow, and most importantly, calm seabed of Thetis which led to the deposition of minerals and salts creating limestone and dolomite.

Cuenca: Enchanted City, Devil’s Window and Medieval Quarter

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The Laguna de Gallocanta

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Gallocanta laguna in Aragon, Spain

Without a doubt, one of the most distinctive living elements of the Laguna de Gallocanta are the birds, especially the striking flocks of common cranes that rest and feed here during the course of their migratory trips.

The vast majority of the European crane population moving on the western migratory route use Gallocanta as a feeding and resting area. Over 100,000 cranes have been counted in a single day (02/24/2011) and its normal for 40,000 to 60,000 individuals to be present during an average migratory season.

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The Tena Valley

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The Tena Valley (in Aragonese Bal de Tena ) is a Pyrenean valley located in the Aragonese region of Alto Gállego

The Tena Valley (in Aragonese Bal de Tena ) is a Pyrenean valley located in the Aragonese region of Alto Gállego (crossed by the Gállego river from north to south). It borders with the French valley of Ossau and access to France is through the Portalet d’Aneu pass . The southern limit is found in the Foz de Santa Elena which separates it from Biescas.

It is one of the largest and most populated valleys in the Pyrenees with an area of ​​about 400 km² and mountains range from 600 meters of altitude in its lowest part to over 3000 m in many of its peaks (Balaitus, Gran Facha, Argualas or the Picos del Infierno). There are also two large reservoirs: Lanuza and Búbal.

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