|
Doñana National Park
The southeast of the province of Huelva by the moyth of the Guadalquivir
River is one of the most noteworthy places in Europe, the Doñana
National Park, declared as such in 1969 and covering an area of 50, 720
hectares, with a further 54,200 hectares surrounding the area protected
as a Nature Reserve. Doñana, also declared by UNESCO a Biosphere
Reserve and Hertiage of Mankind, is particulary valuable because of its
wealth of marshlands, preserves and moving sand dunes of the coastline.
Every year 150 bird species pass through Doñana, the majority of
which nest there. There are also 29 mammal species - the wild bore, deer,
fallow deer, otter, genet, fox, etc. - 17 reptile, 9 amphibian and 8 fish
species which are registered as breeding in the park.
For the birds, Doñana is a main stopping place on their migratory
routes between Europe and Africa, but it is also a refuge for many species
in real danger of extinction, the lynx for example, 40,000 aquatic birds
and over 150,000 anatine birds usually spend the winter here, taking advantage
of the mild climate. The image of bird colonies - herons, sponbills -
perched in the large, gnarled cork oaks, the noted "aviaries",
is world famous, but also a true reflection of what Doñana represents.
|
