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NATURAL AREAS

There are several natural areas and natural parks in each province. We are only going to give some information about five of them.



ORTIGUEIRA RIA

Ortigueira is situated in the North of the the province of A Coruña, between Estaca de Bares cape and Ortegal cape. The "ría" (estuary) is surrounded by the Capelada range, in the West, and Faladoira range, in the East. In the south there are marshes.
On the shores there are huge cliffs such us Ortegal cape. In front of it. we can see some rocky islands, Os Aguillóns.
In winter there are aquatic birds. The slopes are not very rugged and the habitat has got dry grass, lagoons and flat areas.


Area: 2.987 hectares.
Top height: 100 m
Bottom height: 0 m
CLIMATE: The average of rains is 1.370 mm and the average temperature 13º C.
VEGETATION: In the mobile dunes we can find a type of gorse (Ulex maritimus), Atlantic salted meadows, Ammophila arenaria.
BIRDS: Some types of ducks: Anas penelope, Anas strepra, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas acuta, Anas clypeata. A type of hawk, Falco peregrinus.


VALDOVIÑO LAGOON

It is a lagoon separated from the sea by some dunes and a sandy area which are very important from the ecological point of view.
The lagoon is 1.600 m long, 500 m wide and 1.50 m deep. It runs into the sea bymeans of a canal.

CLIMATE: It is European Athlantic. The annual average of rain is 1.376 mm3. The average temperature is 13.1ºC.
VEGETATION: The most important species are: gorse (Ulex maritimus), heather (Erica vagans), alder tree (Alniun glutinoso-incanae).
MIGRATORY BIRDS:Ducks (Anas crecca, Anas platyrhynchos, Anas strepera)
MAMMALS:Mainly otter (Lutra lutra)
REPTILES:Lizard (Lacert schreiberi)





CORRUBEDO NATURAL PARK

It is a natural space on the coast of ther province of A Coruña. It is formed by several dunes. One of them, the largest one, is mobile.
On the North, it has a beach border of 4 km length. The interior is composed of dunes, marshes and lagoons, influenced by the tides.
The lagoon receives water from the sea by means of streams.
It is between 12000 and 15000 years old. The marine erosion and the action of the wind form a sandy barrier to block the primitive bay. Because of this, the marshes and the lagoons formed the Carregal lagoon which is communicated with the sea through little canals.
The mobile dune is more than 1 km long, 200-250 m wide and between 12-15 m high.
The Vixán lagoon does not receive water from the sea, it only has fresh water.


CLIMATE:It is mild oceanic. The annual average temperature is 14º-15ºC.In winter, the wind blows from South-West. In summer, it blows from North and North-East.
VEGETATION:In the soil around the dune there are forests of pine trees Pinus maritimus, Pinus radiata) There are also gorses and brooms. We can see some oaks, alder trees and willows. The vegetation of the dunes are: Ammophyla arenaria, Helichrysum picardii, Scrophularia frutscens. There are also moss and lichens that protect the soil from the wind erosion and dessication. There are some endemic species such as Camariña (Corema album). The vegetation of marshes is mainly formed by giant reeds.
FAUNA:We can find ten species of amphibious and 14 species of reptiles. There are a lot of invertabrates which constitute the support for the rest of the animals of the ecosystem. For their biologic conditions it is a breeding area for species of fishes and crustacean on the coast.
Among the amphibious and reptiles we can mention the green frog, the toad, the salamander and vipers.
Endemic species such as newt and the Galician small lizard are also common.
In the waters near the coast we can often see dolphins and other cetaceans.



THE ANCARES RANGE

It consits of a series of valleys and mountains. The highest top is about 2000 m.
The valleys have been opened by the rivers Navia, Ser, Cervantes, Burbia and Valcarcel.
The range is mainly located between the rivers Navia and Sil. Glaciers have been important for the shape the range has got. This range has some woods on the main mountains, for example, on Penarrubia Mount, on Pando range. Most of these woods are on the northern slopes of the mountains and, only a few, on the slopes oriented to the South.
There are still some small villages where typical ancient houses calles "Pallozas" are preserved. Their structure is like the Celts houses. These type of houses have been declared Art patrimony and they cannot be pulled down.


VEGETATION: A great part of the range has scrub with heather and broom. On the high tops there are bilberries On the lower part there are oaks, ash trees, black poplars and willows. On the inner mountains there are hazel trees.
FAUNA: These woods are the right habitat for strange species or some in danger of extinction such as martens,bears, capercaillie and roe deers.



THE RANGE OF XURÉS

In the natural park of Baixa Limia-Range of Xurés there are two main parts: the wide valley of Limia River and the Xurés Range.. Most of it is over 1000 height. In relation to the soil it is formed by "granite" and remains of glacier action. The granite mountains are either rounded or sharp. There are megalithic, Iron-Age settlements and Roman remains, as the Roman Vía XVIII from Astorga to Braga (Portugal) crossed Galicia The most important places of high natural value are: Eixe range, Pena (Rock) Trevinca and Enciña da Lastra range. There are also some glacier valleys, pools and autochth nous woods.

View of one of the pools.

VEGETATION:In the highest areas we can find birch-trees, holly trees and arbutus. There are also strange and scarce species in Galicia such as Iris Boissieri, Paradisea Lusistanica, Armeria Humilis or Sedum Pruinatum.
FAUNA:It is quite common to find birds such as Kestrel, Eaglet. It is also possible to find wolves, wild boars and roe deers.




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