Protected Areas

The vegetation is characterized by its diversity, which is enhanced by the presence of various habitats: mountain zones, canyons and gorges, moorlands… whose microclimatic conditions support a multitude of different plant species. Notable for their extent are the Salgareño pine (Pinus nigra) forests and, in the middle elevations, where they intermingle with gall oaks (Quercus faginea) and holm oaks (Quercus ilex), as well as the upper-zone Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests combined with heathlands, yews, holly, and juniper thickets. Near watercourses, especially those flowing through dense, shaded areas, we find relict Atlantic vegetation: linden groves (Tilia spp.), aspen groves (Populus tremuloides), black poplar groves (Populus nigra), and other deciduous species that find shelter among walls of Jurassic limestone. Furthermore, the moorlands are an important habitat for the Spanish juniper (Juniperus thurifera)—a slow-growing species with rot-resistant wood, the queen of hostile environments.

This natural park is home to large populations of roe deer, red deer, mountain goats, wild boars, and mouflon, which have been protected since 1973. The rutting season attracts large numbers of visitors each year, who venture deep into our forests to listen to the calls of the deer. The rugged terrain provides numerous cavities and shelters for the griffon vulture, which can be spotted flying over the canyons where it nests. Other birds of prey, such as the short-toed eagle and the golden eagle, can also be observed, as well as waterfowl like coots and ducks. The region’s clear waters are home to otters and kingfishers, whose presence attests to the purity of the streams. Additionally, within the natural park lies the El Hosquillo Experimental Hunting Reserve, a site dedicated to the study and breeding of species such as the brown bear, as well as environmental education.

The scenery of this biodiversity leaves no one indifferent, as the action of water has carved the limestone into a thousand and one shapes. The canyons, such as those of the Júcar and the Hoces de Beteta or Tragavivos, are flanked by immense ridges, on whose bare rock you can count the strata—evidence of the passage of millennia. Water has sculpted the rock into formations known as lapiaz, whose whimsical shapes have sparked the imagination of many; in the past, their existence was even attributed to magical and supernatural causes—a magic they still retain today. The most evocative formations have been given their own names, based on what they resemble, and they attract a significant number of visitors each year. The rock, shaped over millions of years, is no longer merely a support for life but has become the centerpiece of the park’s scenic beauty.