Overview
The Estrecho National Park covers an area of nearly 19,000ha and consists of coastline and its costal waters. It starts from Cabo de Gracia in the west near Bolonia and finishes at Punta del Carnero in the east, south of Algeciras. Also included in the National Park is the Duna de Bolonia Natural Monument and the Playa de los Lances Natural Area.
Sightseeing
Within the park there are many archaeological sites. The Roman town of Baelo Claudia is the most well known. It was renowned for its fish preservation and a particular fish sauce known as ‘garum’ which was produced from tuna and mackerel. Some of the factory can still be seen, along with the enormous stone vats that were used to produce the garum.
The home is home to around 30 caves. Substantial amount contain rock paintings. Also worth visiting are the defensive watchtowers along the coast.
Geology
The park has an impressive range of variety of habitats; a total of 18 range from mobile sand dunes, cork oak woodland and offshore submerged sand banks.
Animals/Birds
Birds are the most prolific and important fauna in the park. Due to its location (the narrowest point of the Strait of Gilbraltar), it is used by many hundreds of millions of migrating birds as they cross from Europe to Africa and back again. Over 350 different species have been recorded here.
The National Park is a bird watches dream. Nearly the whole of the stork population passes through here during migration along with a huge amounts raptor’s and swifts.
The amount of different bird species here is staggering. The area is a permanent home to bonnelli's eagles, goshawks and kestrels along with many others. During migration you’ll find herons, storks, flamingos, spoonbills, honey buzzards, golden eagles among many more species. Griffon and Egyptian vultures and the seabirds gannets, kittiwakes, razorbills, puffins are also found here.
The park includes some areas of sea which are home to some rare or endemic creatures. These include sponges, jellyfish and a huge number of molluscs and crustaceans. The largest limpet (patella ferrugiea) in Europe is found here! There are also sea turtles, dolphins and whales.
Plants
The park has diverse habitats which provide home to many different species of plant. These include dense cork oak woodland at the Sierra de la Plata and Mediterranean scrubland.
Around Bolonia and the Sierra de la Plata is home to a huge amount of wildflowers which in spring put on a spectacular display. These flowers include wild tulips, Spanish irises, palmate anemones and several endemic species of narcissus. Stone pines, phoenician and junipers are found around Punta Paloma and Punta Camarinal. The dunes at Cerro del Estrecho provide an ideal habitat for rock samphire, sea asters and marigolds. |
