Hoces del Río Duratón Natural Park
Encyclopedia
Hoces del Rio Duratón Natural Park is a natural park
of 5,037 hectares
12 km east from Sepúlveda, Segovia
. Its name refers to the Duratón River
. "Las Hoces" refers to the series of 100m high gorges
that were formed by the Duratón.
Saint Fructus
(San Frutos) established himself here as a hermit
in the 8th century; a monastery dedicated to him also exists within the park.
The park encompasses the towns of Sepúlveda, Sebúlcor
and Carrascal del Río
.
It is home to a population of Griffon Vulture
s, along with Egyptian Vulture
s, Common Kestrel
s, and peregrine falcons.
Natural park (Spain)
In Spain, a natural park is a natural space protected for its biology, geology, or landscape, with ecological, aesthetic, educational, or scientific value whose preservation merits preferential attention on the part of public administration. The regulation of the activities that may occur there...
of 5,037 hectares
12 km east from Sepúlveda, Segovia
Sepúlveda, Segovia
Sepúlveda is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. The town lies next to the Hoces del Rio Duratón National Park and also incorporates the district of Duratón....
. Its name refers to the Duratón River
Duratón River
The Duratón River is a river in Spain. It originates in the municipality of Somosierra in the Sierra de Guadarrama....
. "Las Hoces" refers to the series of 100m high gorges
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
that were formed by the Duratón.
Saint Fructus
Saint Fructus
Saint Fructus was a Castilian hermit of the eighth century venerated as a saint. Christian tradition states that he had two siblings, named Valentine and Engratia . They all lived as hermits on a mountain in the region of Sepúlveda...
(San Frutos) established himself here as a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
in the 8th century; a monastery dedicated to him also exists within the park.
The park encompasses the towns of Sepúlveda, Sebúlcor
Sebúlcor
Sebúlcor is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 283 inhabitants....
and Carrascal del Río
Carrascal del Río
Carrascal del Río is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 201 inhabitants....
.
It is home to a population of Griffon Vulture
Griffon Vulture
The Griffon Vulture is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.The Griffon Vulture is long with a wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh and females typically weigh , while in the Indian subspecies the vultures average...
s, along with Egyptian Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
The Egyptian Vulture is a small Old World vulture, found widely distributed from southwestern Europe and northern Africa to southern Asia. It is the only living member of the genus Neophron. It has sometimes also been known as the White Scavenger Vulture or Pharaoh's Chicken...
s, Common Kestrel
Common Kestrel
The Common Kestrel is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called "the kestrel".This species...
s, and peregrine falcons.