| Sierra Nevada | | Flora and Fauna |
Flora
The Sierra Nevada contains the most valuable wild alpine gardens in
Europe. They hold over 1700 plant species amongst which 66 are natural
treasures exclusive to this zone alone. Declared a Biosphere Reserve
by Unesco in 1986, its peaks now await the decision as to whether or not
they will become a National Park.
The species of flora seen in the higher areas of the park are lichen which
survive despite the extremely dry conditions which prevail on the precipices
and ridges of the mountains. The process of adaptation to such inhospitable
conditions has resulted in species as strange as they are beautiful:
The Sierra Nevada Sempervivum plant grows on rocky ground in very
little soil, its short, thick stalks crowning the plant once Spring arrives
with large pinkish flowers.
As you go down the mountain tundra vegetation appears including a great
number of indigenous species such as the Sierra Nevada violet,
the aconite, the royal camomile, the narcissus, the thistle, the clover,
and the saxifrage.
However, the most predominant type of vegetation in the area is mediterranean,
with such well known species as the holm oak, the chesnut, the pine,
rosemary, thyme and the rockrose. The many rivers which flow through
the Sierra Nevada are flanked by strips of woods made up of poplars and
willows.
Fauna
Fauna in the sierra is represented by a vast range of species. If we look
at the invertebrates exclusive to this region alone we find over 20 differents
types of butterfly. Insects deserve a special mention as it is amongst these
that we find the beautiful Sierra Nevada Apollo butterfly; with
whitish wings marked with red and black it is a treasured breed.
The list of mammals to be found here is equally extensive, and in it we find
species such as the mountain goat, the wild boar, the wild cat, the marten, the badger,
the weasel, the fox, the careto dormouse etc.
The mountain goat is the most emblematic mammal of the park.
It was on the point of extinction at the start of the forties when the
hunger of the postwar era made hunting general and intensive.
Now protected, they can be seen deftly climbing the mountains with
suicidal jumps and in the mating season the interlocking antlers of the
powerful males as they fight creates a resounding symphony of horns and
bellows.
Birds are also of great importance here. The golden eagle, fish eagle,
snake eagle and shoed eagle rule the skies at all times. As well as
these, tawny vultures, merlins, kites, and sparrowhawks can be seen.
|
Who are we?
Colaborate
Recruitment
News
Contacts
