| Geographical Features |
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Province: Jaén.
Area: 6.000 Has.
Maximum Altitude: 1.174 m.
Minimum Altitude: 600 m.
Average Temperature: 8º (winter); 29º (summer).
Average Rainfall: 65 mm.
Preservation Scheme: Natural Park.
Access: The N-IV main road cuts across the area.
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With its irregular outline the Despeñaperros Nature Reserve
relieves the homogeneous landscape of the Sierra Morena. For centuries
the Despeñaperros river has been modelling the rock using cross-faults
to create a spectacular gorge of great beauty.
Important archeological remains are to be found in the park.
The Muñecos cave in Santa Elena contains extremely valuable
neolithic sculptures whilst in the Las Vacas del Retamoso cave the
ancient cave paintings are still there to be appreciated.
This park is perhaps one of the most travelled-through, at least partially,
in Andalusia, as both the dual carriageway and railway cross
through it from the lower plateau to the Guadalquivir valley. The enormous
masses of rock formations act as huge gates which open into the Autonomous
Community of Andalusia.
Flora and Fauna
The gorge forms a small part of the Eastern zone. The great park spreads
out towards the West where there are many extensive forest masses, made
up mainly of Cork, Holm and Gall Oaks and Pines, the latter a result
of replantation schemes.
The forest also features species such as the lentiscus (Mastic tree),
myrtle, wild strawberry tree, wild olive, and sloe.
Amongs the numerous animal species most interesting are perhaps the wolf,
the Iberian lynx, the ichneumon (a kind of mongoose), the stag and the
wild boar.
In its skies circle at least five different species of eagle as important
as the golden, the imperial, the "snake-eating", "shoed", and partridge
eagles.
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