Preserved Natural Areas
 

Ordesa seen from Torla

NATIONAL PARK OF ORDESA AND MONTE PERDIDO

The total surface of the National park is 15.600 hectares (38.547 acres). Its extends over the municipal areas of Bielsa, Broto, Fanlo, Puértolas, Tella-Sin and Torla.

EThe National park constitutes a first class geographical unit. The great massif of Monte Perdido (the lost mountain) (3.355 meters), the greatest calcareous massif in Europe, towers over the park, comprising the so-called tres Sorores (three sisters), the summits of Monte Perdido, Cilindro and Pico de Añisclo.

The geologic and morphologic history of the area have given rise to great altitude in certain parts and steep slopes.

This region traditionally served as settlement for people accustomed to a daily strife against the risks of nature; people who have developed a way of life that is sensible and respectful towards the environment and that has made possible to preserve nature up to our days. For this reason, the park has received the highest government award for environmental protection.

The landscape is full of contrasts: in the higher areas we find the extreme aridness of karstic desserts and in the valleys, the constant presence of water dropping from waterfalls and going through canyons and gullies covered with lush vegetation.

In general terms, the climate is typical of the Pyrenees, even though differences in altitude and in the direction the slopes are facing bring about a great range of climates. Variations in humidity and temperature between night and day are also remarkable.

Its geological origin dates back to the Primary Period, when the Pyrenees were nothing like the mountains we know today, but a marine basing were different sedimentary layers were accumulated. Millions of years ago, the Hercynian orogeny began and elevated those sediments, forming a primitive mountain range which was very different from the park's current landscape. At the end of the Secondary Period and the beginning of the Tertiary Period, new limestone sediments accumulated into layers. Thirty-five million years ago, the Alpine orogeny raised once again the Axial Zone of the Pyrenees and pushed up the limestone sediments. Today, a range of calcareous mountains spreads up, where we find the massif of the Tres Sorores, also called Monte perdido.

· FLORA

A true herbarium can be found with over 1.500 species of flora of the Pyrenees. Common species cohabit with other ones only found in these mountains: honeysuckle of the Pyrenees, corona del rey (the king's crown) or oreja del oso (the bear's ear). These plants flourish as the warm season lends them its heat to the lilies, when the snow begins to melt: the primula, the gentian, the lily, the saxifrage, the everlasting flower, the potentilla, the merendera, and others. Lumber industry, unlike grazing, is not allowed in the valley. The forest covers 18 % of the total preserved area, and a total of 15 woods have been catalogued.

 NATIONAL PARK OF THE HIGHER PYRENEES.

Wood of Beeches

The park comprises six main valleys: aure, Luz-Gavarnie, Cauterets, Ossau and Aspe. The influence of the ocean brings a mild and humid weather to the French Northern slope, very different to the Spanish Southern slope. The dominant winds cause heavy rains as reflected in the greenness of the landscapes and in the abundance of brooks, lakes and waterfalls.

· FLORA

In the Pyrenees, as in any other mountainous area, the attention of the observer is drawn by the changes of vegetation depending on the altitude. The higher the altitude the more difficult the life conditions for plants.

In the park we can find a range of plants whose differentiation and evolution only take place in the Pyrenees. Some species are peculiar to this mountain range, the so-called endemic, like for example the bordera or the aster of the Pyrenees (aster pirenaeus).

From 900 to 1800 meters above sea level, woods of fir trees and beeches prevail in the northern slopes and wild pines are predominant in the southern slopes.

At a higher altitude, from 1800 meters to 2400, we find the subalpine ground: black pines, grass and masses of rododendrons, with some birch trees and some serbales de los cazadores (sorbus acuparia).

Among the flowers, we must mention: the madonna lily, the lily of the Pyrenees and the carline thistle (Carlina Acaulis) . From 2400 to 2900 meters we reach alpine ground, where the only trees found are the dwarf willows that climb up the rocks, the stemless silenes, the scented poppy, etc.

Higher up is the snow ground, where only some lichens and algae manage to survive.

· FAUNA

Wild boar

The park has served as shelter for the great species of vertebrates (bears, deers, large birds of prey...)

Among the species living in the park, we must mention the following:

• The desman
  It lives near the shores of brooks and torrents at up to 2000 meters of altitude.
• The marmot
  After its extinction 10000 years ago, it was reinserted in 1950.
• The Spanish Sarrio
  Its survival is mainly due to the preservation work done at the park.
• The bear
  Its population has decreased dramatically to reach the current number of only 6 animals, and its future is dismal.
• The lion vulture
  110 couples build their nests here every year.
• Other species are the lammergeier or bearded vulture, the grouse, the snow partridge, the batrachian, etc.