Monfragüe
Encyclopedia
Monfragüe is a comarca (county, with no administrative role) of Extremadura
, western Spain
, which contains the most recently designated of the country's fourteen National Parks (Spanish: Parque Nacional Monfragüe).
From 1979 the area was protected as a natural park
(a lower level of protection than national park status) until national park status was granted in 2007. Since 2003 it has been recognised by UNESCO
as a Biosphere reserve
.
The park is north of Trujillo
and runs from east to west along the valley of the River Tagus
. It includes a long mountainous ridge, which the river has cut through, creating on the western side an impressive rock face, the Penafalcon. On the eastern side is the Castle of Monfragüe. The River Tietar
enters the park from the north-east and joins the Tagus just to the east of Penafalcon. There is only one village in the park, Villareal de San Carlos (population 28).
woodlands, and numerous cliffs and rock faces.
The land is mainly used for traditional, low-intensive farming. However, there were two major changes in the years 1960-70:
designated Monfrague a Special Protection Area
for bird-life. The area of the SPA (or ZEPA, the equivalent acronym in Spanish) extends beyond the park (where the nesting sites are concentrated) into the surrounding dehesas
, which provide food for the birds.
Monfrague is an outstanding site for raptor
s, with more than 15 regular breeding species, including the world's largest breeding concentration of Eurasian Black Vulture
, a large population of Griffon Vulture
, and several pairs of Spanish Imperial Eagle
, Golden Eagle
and Bonelli's Eagle
. The crags and cliffs on the north side of the river midway through the park draw photographers from all over Europe and the Americas. The government has built observation blinds throughout the course of the river.
Other breeding birds for which the park is important are Black Stork
and Eurasian Eagle Owl
and there is a high density of Azure-winged Magpie
. It is also one of the few locations in Europe where White-rumped Swift
breed.
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
, western Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, which contains the most recently designated of the country's fourteen National Parks (Spanish: Parque Nacional Monfragüe).
From 1979 the area was protected as a natural park
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...
(a lower level of protection than national park status) until national park status was granted in 2007. Since 2003 it has been recognised by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a Biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
.
The park is north of Trujillo
Trujillo, Spain
Trujillo is a Spanish city of 9860 inhabitants , located in the province of Cáceres, in the Extremadura region. Famous for its monuments, it is a premier resort in Extremadura. It was the birthplace of Francisco Pizarro and his brothers, conquerors of Peru, as well as of Francisco de Orellana...
and runs from east to west along the valley of the River Tagus
Tagus
The Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. It is long, in Spain, along the border between Portugal and Spain and in Portugal, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. It drains an area of . The Tagus is highly utilized for most of its course...
. It includes a long mountainous ridge, which the river has cut through, creating on the western side an impressive rock face, the Penafalcon. On the eastern side is the Castle of Monfragüe. The River Tietar
Tiétar
Tiétar is a river of Spain. It is a tributary of the Tagus. Its source is in the Sierra de Gredos mountain range and has a length of 170km. It flows into the Tagus at Monfragüe.-External links:*...
enters the park from the north-east and joins the Tagus just to the east of Penafalcon. There is only one village in the park, Villareal de San Carlos (population 28).
Biodiversity
Habitats in the park include extensive dense scrub, small oakOak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
woodlands, and numerous cliffs and rock faces.
The land is mainly used for traditional, low-intensive farming. However, there were two major changes in the years 1960-70:
- the river Tagus was dammed, affecting its course through the park;
- parts of the park were affected by a project of planting eucalyptusEucalyptusEucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
. This non-indigenous species is being eradicated: commercial forestry is prohibited in Spanish national parks.
Birds
In 1988 the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
designated Monfrague a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
for bird-life. The area of the SPA (or ZEPA, the equivalent acronym in Spanish) extends beyond the park (where the nesting sites are concentrated) into the surrounding dehesas
Dehesa (pastoral management)
Dehesa is a type of wooded pastureland found in the Iberian peninsula, used for the grazing of livestock...
, which provide food for the birds.
Monfrague is an outstanding site for raptor
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
s, with more than 15 regular breeding species, including the world's largest breeding concentration of Eurasian Black Vulture
Eurasian Black Vulture
The Cinereous Vulture is also known as the Black Vulture, Monk Vulture, or Eurasian Black Vulture. It is a member of the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.This bird is an Old World vulture, and is only distantly related to the...
, a large 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...
, and several pairs of Spanish Imperial Eagle
Spanish Imperial Eagle
The Spanish Imperial Eagle, Iberian Imperial Eagle or Adalbert's Eagle is a threatened species of eagle that only occurs in central and south-west Spain, adjacent areas of Portugal and possibly northern Morocco, although the latter is disputed...
, Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
and Bonelli's Eagle
Bonelli's Eagle
The Bonelli's Eagle is a large bird of prey. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae.It breeds in southern Europe, Africa both north and south of the Sahara Desert and across southern Asia to Indonesia...
. The crags and cliffs on the north side of the river midway through the park draw photographers from all over Europe and the Americas. The government has built observation blinds throughout the course of the river.
Other breeding birds for which the park is important are Black Stork
Black Stork
The Black Stork Ciconia nigra is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe, predominantly in central and eastern regions. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. It is seen in...
and Eurasian Eagle Owl
Eurasian Eagle Owl
The Eurasian Eagle-Owl is a species of eagle owl resident in much of Eurasia. It is also one of the largest types of owls.-Description:The Eagle Owl is a large and powerful bird, smaller than the Golden Eagle but larger than the Snowy Owl...
and there is a high density of Azure-winged Magpie
Azure-winged Magpie
The Azure-winged Magpie is a bird in the crow family. It is 31–35 cm long and similar in overall shape to the European Magpie but is more slender with proportionately smaller legs and bill. It belongs to the monotypical genus Cyanopica.It has a glossy black top to the head and a white throat...
. It is also one of the few locations in Europe where White-rumped Swift
White-rumped Swift
The White-rumped Swift is a small swift. Although this bird is superficially similar to a House Martin, it is completely unrelated to that passerine species. The resemblances between the swallows and swifts are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles.Swifts have very short legs...
breed.