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Natural Park Sierra
de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas
This
is the largest natural park of Spain and locates in the northeast
of the province of Jaén where the Segura and the Guadalquivir
rivers rise. It offers an amazing landscape diversity that
goes from the 650 metres in its lowest quote where the Tranco
Reservoir lies to the summit of Las Empanadas with 2.107 meters
high. There are also some narrow valleys like that of the
Borosa, Hornos or Aguasmulas rives and wide valleys like the
Guadalquivir's.
The
natural space consists of four mountain cahins: Cazorla, in
the west border with the El Adelantado Parador Nacional hotel;
and the mountain cahins of Las Villas, el Pozo and Segura.
Its rough orography enables the existence of many rivers and
strems. The Segura river forms a natural reservoir inside
the Park, that of Anchuricas and continues its way through
the mountain chain.
Certainly, the tourist activity is one of the economic resources
of the park par excellence, besides wood and sheep.
Thanks to the revival of cynegetic activities and its ecological
values it deserved the classification of Biosphere Reserve
in 1983, through it was National hunting reserve sice 1960.
Later on, it became Natural Park by Decree on 1989 and Special
Area for the Protection of the Birds (ZEPA in Spanish).
The
activities available in the park are very varied: adventure
sports, trekking, speleology, paraglider and hang-glider. The
park hoards a rich historic-artistic heritage. From the almost
400 years of Arab domination and from the Reconquest period
there are still many fortifications like the historic-artistic
complex of Segura de la Sierra. the San Miguel Castle of Bujaraiza,
the Arab and Christian castles of Cazorla and the watch tower
of Tiscar.
Location:
Comarcas de Cazorla, Segura, Quesada y Las Villas (jaén). Area: 214.336 hectares. Most common animal species: Royal snake,
booted and Bonelli's eagles, hawk, sparrowhawk, kite, eagle
owl, black vulture, tawny vulture and oesprey; fox, wildcat,
genet, badger and otter; deer, roe deer, wild goat, European
mouflon and boar. Most common vegetation: Spanish pine, holm,
oak, maple, oleaster, ash-tree, willow, poplar, box-tree,
juniper, Cazorla violet and narcissus. Access: free. How to arrive: From the East Coast, road
N-322 Bailén-Albacete; from Granada and Almeria, highway
A-315; and from the rest, the Andalucia Highway or N-322.
Map
of Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park.