Overview
This immense park covers 167,767ha from Tarifa in the south to the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park in the north. It is named after its beautiful and beautifully kept cork tree grove, the largest in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most important ones in the world. It is probably the best example of what the densely wooded, primeval Iberian forests may have been like.
Walking
There are two visitors' centres: Huerta Grande is found south of Algeciras. El Aljibe is in Alcalá de los Gazules.
The area is superb walking country, with woodland, river and mountain areas to choose from and 20 signposted walks.
Sendero Subida al Picacho is a 2.3km walk It leads up to the peak of Picacho, at 882m, with stunning views over the park. El Picacho is also the starting point of the short 1.2km walk (Sendero Garganta de Puerto Oscuro), the trail passes by the Laguna de El Picacho. Sendero Laguna del Moral is an easy walk of 2km. It takes you through densely wooded cork groves and ends at Laguna del Moral.
Sightseeing
Castellar de la Frontera Castle is a 10th century Moorish fortress, built on a rocky outcrop over the remains of a Roman settlement. Also worth visiting in Castellar de la Frontera is a Moorish watchtower, Torre de la Almoraima
Cuevas del Tajo de las Figueras are a series of caves southeast of Benalup village. Discovered in 1913, the Tajo de las Figueras features Neolithic cave paintings and tombs.
Geology
The far south of the region is crossed by humid, deep, narrow V-shaped valleys, called canutos, which have been eroded by rivers and provide the ideal habitat for subtropical forests of great ecological value.
Animals/Birds
The park has a rich variety of birds of prey, with 18 species recorded here including booted eagles, Bonelli's eagles and peregrines.
Along the water courses are kingfishers, sand martins and dippers. As it is located close to the Strait of Gibraltar, the cork forests are often full of migrant birds of prey in spring and autumn.
The region is populated by many mammals, among them Egyptian mongoose, foxes, badgers, genets, and dormice. It is also home to an impressive variety of bats: 20 species of bat inhabit the caves of the park, of a total 22 species recorded in the whole of Andalucia. Otters and terrapins are found in the rivers.
Plants
The region is characterised by a great variety of prevalent vegetation. One being the most common tree is the cork oak. Other native trees are holm oaks, portuguese oaks and wild olive trees. On the poorer soils is Mediterranean scrubland, made up of Kermes oak, rock roses, and tree heather amongst many other species. |
