Castilla y Leon information
The Picos de Europa National Park
Picos de Europa is the first Spanish National
Park to receive this classification. Its origin dates back to
1918, when don Pedro Pidal, Marquis of Villaviciosa, helped establish
the law to create Montaña de Covadonga National Park. Since
30 May 1935, it has been called Picos de Europa National Park.
The Picos de Europa consist of three important massifs that go by the names of the Eastern Massif or Andara, Central Massif or Urrielles and Western Massif or Cornión. The climate is characterized by humidity and constant rainfall, a fact that is determined by its proximity to the sea (barely 20 kilometres). The presence of snow is accentuated during the winter months, however, it is not unusual for there to be perpetual snow. The Park's special climate means that there are frequent fog banks, something that is greatly feared by mountaineers. As for its orography, the Park has an exceptional relief, where high summits alternate with deep gorges and canyons.
The park boasts 200 heights of over 2,000 metres, and vertical
drops of over 2,300 m. The Central Massif is the most abrupt of
the three that make up the Park and the greatest heights can be
found there: Torrecerredo (2,646 m), the highest summit in the
Picos, Naranjo de Bulnes (2,519 m) or Pico Tesorero (2,570 m).
The Western Massif is the most extensive, and it possesses high
summits, like Peña Santa de Castilla (2,596 m). The famous Covadonga
lakes can be found on this massif. The Eastern massif, shorter
and lower, blends sharp crag with green pastures. The Park is
crossed by four rivers channelled in deep gorges: la Hermida defile,
crossed by the river Deva; los Beyos defile, by the river Sella;
la "Garganta Divina",(Divine Gorge) through which the
river Cares runs, and La India defiles, though which the river
Duje flows.
Natural features:
In Picos de Europa National Park, Spain's best Atlantic forest can be found. Beech, oak, hazel, maple, chestnut and walnut trees abound.... The valley is inhabited by numerous species of animals, from wild boars, roe deer, wolves and several bears, a multitude of small birds (robins, coal tits or black woodpeckers), and even the emblematic capercaillie.
Visit information. Unrestricted access to the Park. There are
Visitor Centres at Posada de Valdeón, Cangas de Onís and Buferrera.
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.