Peñalara Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Peñalara Natural Park is a natural park
of 7.68 km² in
the northwest of the Community of Madrid.
The park is situated in the central zone of the Sierra de Guadarrama
, (part of the mountainous axis called the Central System
) in Spain
. The reserve includes Peñalara's summit, the highest peak of the mountain system, and an area to the south-east of the peak in Rascafría
district. The Community of Madrid declared the area a natural park in June 1990.
The zones of lowest altitude hold white pine
forests and grasslands. Bushes grow higher up in the mountains, which are predominately composed of alpine meadows and rocky areas. The park is home to the black vulture
and the Spanish Imperial Eagle
, and also many small mammals and amphibians.
The park is accessible from Puerto de Cotos, the region's center of tourism. Especially popular on the holidays, the reserve provides a venue for hiking
, mountain climbing, and skiing
.
Peñalara Nature Reserve is located in the zone of highest elevation on the southeastern slope of Peñalara Peak, with its 2.428 kilometers the highest in the Sierra de Guadarrama
, in the high part of Lozoya Valley, and in the district of Rascafría
. It covers a rough rectangle of 7.68 square kilometers. The coordinates of the reserve's central zone are 40º 50' N 3º 57' W.
In the northern zone are two projecting cliffs difficult to reach; the northernmost is Bird Cliff, with a height of 2.334 kilometers. Close by and to the south is the Cliff of Carnations, which being 2.388 kilometers above sea level is the second-highest peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama
. No other elevations are so prominent. To the south is Peñalara peak, distinguished by a geodesic vertex of the first order that indicates its height of 2.285 kilometers. The 2.271 km Two Sisters Mountain marks the southeastern limit of the park. Besides these peaks, other highlights include Cheese Boulder, a 2.032 km peak to the southeast of the Younger Sister, midway between Puerto de Cotos and the cirque of Peñalara.
The peaks of the park, ordered from north to south, are the following:
, created by a glaciar. It is located between the summit of Peñalara and the Younger Sister, on the eastern slope of both peaks. The base of the cirque has an altitude of 2 to 2.05 km, and its sides rise from this elevation to 2.2 and 2.4 km. There are also three other cirques of lesser size and importance. One of these is the cirque of Pepe Hernando, located some 500 m to the south of the Lake of Carnations. Its size is a quarter of Peñalara's, and its base rises to approximately 1.9 km. The others are the cirques of the Regajo de la Pedriza y Brezal. Each has a moraine
at its lower part, a rocky zone with a relatively gentle slope that was produced by the track of an ancient glacier
. Besides cirques and moraines, there exists a series of walls with elevations greater than 200 m aligned north to south, extending north and south from the principle cirque.
During the wet seasons (fall and spring), a series of arroyo
s flow from the major lakes and often form cascades, which add to the landscape's beauty. Bird Arroyo originates from Bird Lake, and the arroyo of Peñalara's lagoon originates from the Great Lake. All these streams run eastward and belong to the western region of the Lozoya River
basin.
corresponding to the North and South Subplateaus. Both form part of the Central Plateau. In the Middle Paleozoic
(360 to 290 mya (unit)), an initial substrate of ancient granite
s and sediment
s began to fold and metamorphose, creating the gneiss
es.
During the Late Paleozoic
(290 to 250 mya), those materials began to fracture. Masses of magma
began rising to the surface, and in this way the granites were formed. The final phase of this era produced a general elevation of the Peñalara massif
.
From the end of the Paleozoic and during the Mesozoic
(250 to 65 mya), the processes of erosion
began to wear down the contours of the land. In this last period occurred a monumental departure from the ocean, which left subaquatic zones exposed on the surface (prior to this, it is likely that the sierra was not more than an islet
raised slightly above the sea) and formed sinks of sediment that covered the plains with sediment and would give them their later calcareous character.
In the Cenozoic
or Tertiary
(65 to 1.8 mya), the processes that raised the Peñalara massif and divided it into the blocks we find today began to work again. Erosion of the rocky massif filled the basins with sediment. Glacial action in the Quaternary
(1.8 mya to present) finished shaping the Peñalara cirque and the walls of the mountainous axis. The cirques were covered by a mantle of ice up to 300 m thick. Later, the confluence of the rivers gave the final touch to the landscape. The dominant rock in the park is granite
, which is very hard and erosion-resistant.
of broom
and jabino, which alternates with meadows of Nardus stricta
in wetter areas like the cirque basins. Less plentiful but of equal interest are the swamp blueberries of the Peñalara plains. Other, less common types of matorral are composed of true heath
and juniper
. Under the elevation 2 km grow tight-knitted forests of white pine
. These are the only species of tree in the reserve. Thickets of fern
grow in the forests, though not abundantly. Several brightly-colored flowers grow high in the mountains in spring and simmer. The reserve contains 343 species of vascular plant
s and 200 species of lichen
. About half the taxon
s of vascular plants are considered rare, endemic, or threatened. Of those, fifty have populations so reduced they require maximum protection.
, the Plebicula ni ecensis, and the Hyphoraia dejeani
. The mammals include squirrel
s, rabbit
s, and badger
s.
is plentiful. Snow falls in winter and part of the spring. The area's cold temperatures generally cause rain to freeze into snow from the end of November to the middle of May. In the highest zones, snow may last until July. The Peñalara lakes freeze in December and thaw in March. A meteorological phenomenon of the winter is the freezing fog, or the fog of ice, which covers vegetation in ice when the temperature is less than 0 °C.
The average temperature is about 6 or 7 °C. It reaches a maximum of 22 °C in summer and a minimum of −14 °C in winter. December through February, the temperature does not rise above 0 °C, and the snow cap grows larger. Storms are frequent in spring, summer, and to a lesser degree, autumn. The wind is intense in the mountains, especially when the pressure is low, and a thick fog is common throughout the year. The wind at average strength comes from the northeast. Average relative humidity
is about 75%. Adverse weather phenomena such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes are rare.
Climate of Puerto de Cotos (1.830 km)
. They planned the creation of a Guadarrama National Park
to protect the high zones of the sierra. Their project was never carried into effect, due to changes in government and the Spanish Civil War
.
The great scientific interest in the region throughout the 1920s prompted its designation in 1930 as a Natural Area of National Interest to protect it from outside attack.
In the 1980s began a project to protect the slopes of Peñalara Peak, including the cirque and the lakes. On June 15, 1990, the Community of Madrid declared the zone a Natural Park of the Peak, Cirque, and Lakes of Peñalara by the law 6/1990. From 1998 to the beginning of the 21st century, the old Valcotos ski resort
that occupied a large part of the protected area was dismantled. The ski lifts were removed and the slopes reforrested. This pioneering action also brought about an improvement of the facilities at Puerto de Cotos.
, built toward the end of the 14th century, is located only 8 km northeast of the natural park in the district of Rascafría
and in the center of Lozoya
Valley. Its construction was ordered by King Enrique II of Castille. The building was declared a national monument in 1876. Notable are its cloister
s, the church atrium, and the retable
s. The beauty of the monastery is framed by the surrounding mountains.
, is the center of tourism and point of departure for all routes crossing the reserve. From the same place runs the C-9 line of the Cercanías Madrid
, which leaves from Cercedilla
and is known as the Guadarrama rail. This transportation route sees massive use during the festive days. There is also a bus line running through the mountain pass. The major parking lot in the tourism center accommodates cars and buses. An information building at Puerto de Cotos dispenses maps of trails and safety rules. The tourism center also holds a restaurant, the headquarters of the Spanish Alpine Club, a mountain-climbing school, and a sled rental. In winter the large esplanade of Puerto de Cotos becomes a sledding track.
At the foot of the Older Sister, some 300 m south of Peñalara Great Lake and 2.075 km high, is the obsolete Zabala mountain shelter, which is now used only for storage of maintenance supplies. The hotels and lodges nearest to Peñalara Nature Reserve are in Puerto de Navacerrada and the town of Rascafría
.
The flood of sightseers during the festival days is intense. The most popular activity in the park is hiking. Extra precautions are needed in winter, when the bad weather and thick snow and ice make for hard travel and easy disorientation.
Another popular activity is mountain climbing, which can be done in authorized areas on the Peñalara cirque. The mountain-climbing sectors are Two Sisters, Cosaco, Placas Duro, Teresa, Trapecio, and Zabala.. In winter one can also ski cross-country on the broad paths and areas near Puerto de Cotos, which are vestiges of the old Valcotos ski resort. This is particularly popular with Madrid and Segovia residents.
. As at 2009 this proposal has yet to approved, but it is likely to affect the level of protection given to Peñalara. Paradoxically, the protection of the natural park may be reduced as the President of the Community of Madrid wishes to promote hunting in the sierra.
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 7.68 km² in
the northwest of the Community of Madrid.
The park is situated in the central zone of the Sierra de Guadarrama
Sierra de Guadarrama
The Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
, (part of the mountainous axis called the Central System
Sistema Central
The Sistema Central is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula.-Description:The Sistema Central is a primary feature of the Meseta Central, the inner Iberian plateau, splitting the meseta into two parts...
) in 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...
. The reserve includes Peñalara's summit, the highest peak of the mountain system, and an area to the south-east of the peak in Rascafría
Rascafría
Rascafría is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.In its territory is the Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular....
district. The Community of Madrid declared the area a natural park in June 1990.
The zones of lowest altitude hold white pine
White Pine
-Trees:* Trees in the pine subgenus Pinus subgenus Strobus** Eastern White Pine , one of these species, native to northeastern North America...
forests and grasslands. Bushes grow higher up in the mountains, which are predominately composed of alpine meadows and rocky areas. The park is home to the 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...
and the 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...
, and also many small mammals and amphibians.
The park is accessible from Puerto de Cotos, the region's center of tourism. Especially popular on the holidays, the reserve provides a venue for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, mountain climbing, and skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
.
Geography
Sierra de Guadarrama
The Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
, in the high part of Lozoya Valley, and in the district of Rascafría
Rascafría
Rascafría is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.In its territory is the Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular....
. It covers a rough rectangle of 7.68 square kilometers. The coordinates of the reserve's central zone are 40º 50' N 3º 57' W.
In the northern zone are two projecting cliffs difficult to reach; the northernmost is Bird Cliff, with a height of 2.334 kilometers. Close by and to the south is the Cliff of Carnations, which being 2.388 kilometers above sea level is the second-highest peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama
Sierra de Guadarrama
The Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
. No other elevations are so prominent. To the south is Peñalara peak, distinguished by a geodesic vertex of the first order that indicates its height of 2.285 kilometers. The 2.271 km Two Sisters Mountain marks the southeastern limit of the park. Besides these peaks, other highlights include Cheese Boulder, a 2.032 km peak to the southeast of the Younger Sister, midway between Puerto de Cotos and the cirque of Peñalara.
The peaks of the park, ordered from north to south, are the following:
- Bird Cliff (2.334 km)
- Cliff of Carnations (2.388 km)
- Peñalara Peak (2.428 km)
- Older Sister Mountain (2.285 km)
- Younger Sister Mountain (2.271 km)
- Cheese Boulder (2.032 km)
Glacial features
One of the most interesting elements of the reserve is the Peñalara cirqueCirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
, created by a glaciar. It is located between the summit of Peñalara and the Younger Sister, on the eastern slope of both peaks. The base of the cirque has an altitude of 2 to 2.05 km, and its sides rise from this elevation to 2.2 and 2.4 km. There are also three other cirques of lesser size and importance. One of these is the cirque of Pepe Hernando, located some 500 m to the south of the Lake of Carnations. Its size is a quarter of Peñalara's, and its base rises to approximately 1.9 km. The others are the cirques of the Regajo de la Pedriza y Brezal. Each has a moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
at its lower part, a rocky zone with a relatively gentle slope that was produced by the track of an ancient glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
. Besides cirques and moraines, there exists a series of walls with elevations greater than 200 m aligned north to south, extending north and south from the principle cirque.
Hydrography
There are some twenty small glacial lakes in the park. All are located to the east of the large walls in a relatively level zone of elevation 2.2 – 2 km. One of the largest is Bird Lake to the northeast of Bird Cliff. A half kilometer to the south is the Lake of Carnations, a small lagoon between the Cliff of Carnations and the eastern slope of Peñalara Peak. In the bed of Peñalara cirque, further to the south, is the circular Peñalara Great Lake, the most extensive in the reserve. It is the most popular with visitors. Approximately .6 km to its southeast is Chica Lagoon, the most distant lake of the cirque: a small and seldom-visited lagoon that commands an impressive view of the Older Sister Mountain, the Peñalara cirque, and Peñalara Peak. All the lakes remain frozen from September until about March.During the wet seasons (fall and spring), a series of arroyo
Arroyo (creek)
An arroyo , a Spanish word translated as brook, and also called a wash is usually a dry creek or stream bed—gulch that temporarily or seasonally fills and flows after sufficient rain. Wadi is a similar term in Africa. In Spain, a rambla has a similar meaning to arroyo.-Types and processes:Arroyos...
s flow from the major lakes and often form cascades, which add to the landscape's beauty. Bird Arroyo originates from Bird Lake, and the arroyo of Peñalara's lagoon originates from the Great Lake. All these streams run eastward and belong to the western region of the Lozoya River
Lozoya River
The Lozoya River is a river flowing near the centre of Spain. It originates at a high altitude in the Sistema Central and cuts downward through steep rocks to flow into the Jarama River, a major tributary of the Tajo, the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula.-Water use:The Lozoya has been...
basin.
Geology
The high relief of the reserve is due to the collision between the tectonic platesTectonic Plates
Tectonic Plates is a 1992 independent Canadian film directed by Peter Mettler. Mettler also wrote the screenplay based on the play by Robert Lepage. The film stars Marie Gignac, Céline Bonnier and Robert Lepage.-Plot summary:...
corresponding to the North and South Subplateaus. Both form part of the Central Plateau. In the Middle Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
(360 to 290 mya (unit)), an initial substrate of ancient granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
s and sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
s began to fold and metamorphose, creating the gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
es.
During the Late Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
(290 to 250 mya), those materials began to fracture. Masses of magma
Magma
Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...
began rising to the surface, and in this way the granites were formed. The final phase of this era produced a general elevation of the Peñalara massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
.
From the end of the Paleozoic and during the Mesozoic
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
(250 to 65 mya), the processes of erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
began to wear down the contours of the land. In this last period occurred a monumental departure from the ocean, which left subaquatic zones exposed on the surface (prior to this, it is likely that the sierra was not more than an islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
raised slightly above the sea) and formed sinks of sediment that covered the plains with sediment and would give them their later calcareous character.
In the Cenozoic
Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era is the current and most recent of the three Phanerozoic geological eras and covers the period from 65.5 mya to the present. The era began in the wake of the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that saw the demise of the last non-avian dinosaurs and...
or Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
(65 to 1.8 mya), the processes that raised the Peñalara massif and divided it into the blocks we find today began to work again. Erosion of the rocky massif filled the basins with sediment. Glacial action in the Quaternary
Quaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
(1.8 mya to present) finished shaping the Peñalara cirque and the walls of the mountainous axis. The cirques were covered by a mantle of ice up to 300 m thick. Later, the confluence of the rivers gave the final touch to the landscape. The dominant rock in the park is granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
, which is very hard and erosion-resistant.
Flora and fauna
The flora and fauna of Peñalara Natural Reserve are exclusively in the mountains. The cold climate, the strong wind, and the abundant snow during most of the year are the reasons why forests only grow at low altitudes and the fauna is composed of small animals.Flora
The dominant vegetation is a matorralMatorral
Matorral is a Spanish word, along with tomillares, for shrubland, thicket or bushes. It is used in naming and describing a Mediterranean climate ecosystem in Southern Europe.-Mediterranean region:...
of broom
Broom (shrub)
Brooms are a group of evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the legume family Fabaceae, mainly in the three genera Chamaecytisus, Cytisus and Genista, but also in many other small genera . All genera in this group are from the tribe Genisteae...
and jabino, which alternates with meadows of Nardus stricta
Nardus stricta
Nardus stricta is a densely tufted, tough, wiry perennial plant species belonging to the family Poaceae , and found throughout much of the world. It exists on heath, moorland, hills, mountains; on sandy to peaty soils...
in wetter areas like the cirque basins. Less plentiful but of equal interest are the swamp blueberries of the Peñalara plains. Other, less common types of matorral are composed of true heath
Erica
Erica ,the heaths or heathers, is a genus of approximately 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The English common names "heath" and "heather" are shared by some closely related genera of similar appearance....
and juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
. Under the elevation 2 km grow tight-knitted forests of white pine
White Pine
-Trees:* Trees in the pine subgenus Pinus subgenus Strobus** Eastern White Pine , one of these species, native to northeastern North America...
. These are the only species of tree in the reserve. Thickets of fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
grow in the forests, though not abundantly. Several brightly-colored flowers grow high in the mountains in spring and simmer. The reserve contains 343 species of vascular plant
Vascular plant
Vascular plants are those plants that have lignified tissues for conducting water, minerals, and photosynthetic products through the plant. Vascular plants include the clubmosses, Equisetum, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms...
s and 200 species of lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
. About half the taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
s of vascular plants are considered rare, endemic, or threatened. Of those, fifty have populations so reduced they require maximum protection.
Fauna
The snow vole lives in the matorral and the rock and mountain lizards among the rocks. Among the butterflies are the Parnassius apolloParnassius
Parnassius is a genus of northern circumpolar and montane butterflies usually known as Apollos. They can vary in colour and form significantly based on their altitude. They also show an adaptation to high altitudes called altitudinal melanism...
, the Plebicula ni ecensis, and the Hyphoraia dejeani
Arctiini
The Arctiini are a tribe of moths in the Arctiinae subfamily. Sometimes , the Arctiini are defined sensu lato, with much of the remaining Arctiinae merged here as subtribes.-Genera of Arctiini s.str...
. The mammals include squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s, rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, and badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
s.
- amphibianAmphibianAmphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s are found in the ponds and lakes. Ten species of amphibian are recorded, of which six are included in the National Catalogue of Threatened Species. The most common amphibian is the salamanderSalamanderSalamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
. In 2006 Peñalara was listed as a wetland site under the Ramsar conventionRamsar ConventionThe Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
with the name Humedales del Macizo de Peñalara.
- Birds: 79 of the 97 bird species are protected.. The most common birds are the hedge sparrow, the gray callaba, the pechiazul, the crag martinCrag MartinThe Eurasian Crag Martin or just Crag Martin is a small passerine bird in the swallow family. It is about 14 cm long with ash-brown upperparts and paler underparts, and a short, square tail that has distinctive white patches on most of its feathers. It breeds in the mountains of southern...
, the alpine chough, the imperial eagleSpanish Imperial EagleThe 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...
, and the black vultureEurasian Black VultureThe 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...
. The Special Protection AreaSpecial Protection AreaA 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...
Alto Lozoya includes the natural park within its boundaries.
Climate
Peñalara Nature Reserve has a mountain climate characterized by very cold winters and mild summers. PrecipitationPrecipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
is plentiful. Snow falls in winter and part of the spring. The area's cold temperatures generally cause rain to freeze into snow from the end of November to the middle of May. In the highest zones, snow may last until July. The Peñalara lakes freeze in December and thaw in March. A meteorological phenomenon of the winter is the freezing fog, or the fog of ice, which covers vegetation in ice when the temperature is less than 0 °C.
The average temperature is about 6 or 7 °C. It reaches a maximum of 22 °C in summer and a minimum of −14 °C in winter. December through February, the temperature does not rise above 0 °C, and the snow cap grows larger. Storms are frequent in spring, summer, and to a lesser degree, autumn. The wind is intense in the mountains, especially when the pressure is low, and a thick fog is common throughout the year. The wind at average strength comes from the northeast. Average relative humidity
Relative humidity
Relative humidity is a term used to describe the amount of water vapor in a mixture of air and water vapor. It is defined as the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture, given as a percentage of the saturated vapor pressure under those conditions...
is about 75%. Adverse weather phenomena such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes are rare.
Climate of Puerto de Cotos (1.830 km)
| January | February | March | April | May | June | Jule | August | September | October | November | December | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature Highs (°C) | 2.0 | 2.5 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 10.2 | 16.3 | 21.2 | 21.2 | 16.6 | 9.8 | 5.4 | 3.2 | 9.9 |
| Temperature Lows (°C) | -3.1 | -2.9 | -1.7 | -0.8 | 2.8 | 7.5 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 8.2 | 3.6 | 0.2 | -1.7 | 2.9 |
| Precip. (mm) | 141 | 116 | 92 | 138 | 142 | 71 | 33 | 24 | 63 | 143 | 186 | 176 | 1326 |
| Days of Snow | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 78 |
History
During the 1920s, various intellectuals from the Institución Libre de Enseñanza (Free Teaching Institute) showed the great ecological importance of the Sierra de GuadarramaSierra de Guadarrama
The Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
. They planned the creation of a Guadarrama National Park
Guadarrama National Park
Guadarrama National Park is a proposed National Park in Spain. The project would protect some of the most ecologically valuable areas of the mountain range of Guadarrama , located in the Community of Madrid and Castile and León...
to protect the high zones of the sierra. Their project was never carried into effect, due to changes in government and the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
The great scientific interest in the region throughout the 1920s prompted its designation in 1930 as a Natural Area of National Interest to protect it from outside attack.
In the 1980s began a project to protect the slopes of Peñalara Peak, including the cirque and the lakes. On June 15, 1990, the Community of Madrid declared the zone a Natural Park of the Peak, Cirque, and Lakes of Peñalara by the law 6/1990. From 1998 to the beginning of the 21st century, the old Valcotos ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
that occupied a large part of the protected area was dismantled. The ski lifts were removed and the slopes reforrested. This pioneering action also brought about an improvement of the facilities at Puerto de Cotos.
Buildings of Interest
The Monastery of Santa María de El PaularSanta Maria de El Paular
The Monasterio de Santa María de El Paular is a former Carthusian monastery located just northwest of Madrid, in the town of Rascafría, located in the Valley of Lozoya below the Sierra de Guadarrama. Supposedly construction begun in 1390 by orders of Henry II of Castile, and construction proceeded...
, built toward the end of the 14th century, is located only 8 km northeast of the natural park in the district of Rascafría
Rascafría
Rascafría is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.In its territory is the Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular....
and in the center of Lozoya
Lozoya
Lozoya is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain....
Valley. Its construction was ordered by King Enrique II of Castille. The building was declared a national monument in 1876. Notable are its cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
s, the church atrium, and the retable
Retable
A retable is a framed altarpiece, raised slightly above the back of the altar or communion table, on which are placed the cross, ceremonial candlesticks and other ornaments....
s. The beauty of the monastery is framed by the surrounding mountains.
Tourism
For centuries Peñalara has drawn hundreds of sightseers with its magnificent views and landscape. Today, the natural park is visited by an average of 130,000 people every year. Puerto de Cotos, a mountain pass at the reserve's southern boundary connecting the Community of Madrid and the province of SegoviaSegovia (province)
Segovia is a province of central/northern Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is bordered by the provinces of Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara, Madrid, Ávila, and Valladolid....
, is the center of tourism and point of departure for all routes crossing the reserve. From the same place runs the C-9 line of the Cercanías Madrid
Cercanías Madrid
Cercanías Madrid is the commuter rail service that serves Madrid, the capital of Spain, and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías Renfe, the commuter rail division of RENFE, the former monopoly of rail services in Spain. The system is infamous for being the target of the 11 March 2004...
, which leaves from Cercedilla
Cercedilla
Cercedilla is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain. It is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama. It was the hometown of Francisco Fernández Ochoa , an alpine ski racer known for being the first Spaniard to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. He won the slalom in 1972 in Japan...
and is known as the Guadarrama rail. This transportation route sees massive use during the festive days. There is also a bus line running through the mountain pass. The major parking lot in the tourism center accommodates cars and buses. An information building at Puerto de Cotos dispenses maps of trails and safety rules. The tourism center also holds a restaurant, the headquarters of the Spanish Alpine Club, a mountain-climbing school, and a sled rental. In winter the large esplanade of Puerto de Cotos becomes a sledding track.
At the foot of the Older Sister, some 300 m south of Peñalara Great Lake and 2.075 km high, is the obsolete Zabala mountain shelter, which is now used only for storage of maintenance supplies. The hotels and lodges nearest to Peñalara Nature Reserve are in Puerto de Navacerrada and the town of Rascafría
Rascafría
Rascafría is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.In its territory is the Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular....
.
The flood of sightseers during the festival days is intense. The most popular activity in the park is hiking. Extra precautions are needed in winter, when the bad weather and thick snow and ice make for hard travel and easy disorientation.
Another popular activity is mountain climbing, which can be done in authorized areas on the Peñalara cirque. The mountain-climbing sectors are Two Sisters, Cosaco, Placas Duro, Teresa, Trapecio, and Zabala.. In winter one can also ski cross-country on the broad paths and areas near Puerto de Cotos, which are vestiges of the old Valcotos ski resort. This is particularly popular with Madrid and Segovia residents.
Proposed national park
At the beginning of the 21st century, the Community of Madrid together with Castilla y León declared that a large portion of the sierra would form a Guadarrama National ParkGuadarrama National Park
Guadarrama National Park is a proposed National Park in Spain. The project would protect some of the most ecologically valuable areas of the mountain range of Guadarrama , located in the Community of Madrid and Castile and León...
. As at 2009 this proposal has yet to approved, but it is likely to affect the level of protection given to Peñalara. Paradoxically, the protection of the natural park may be reduced as the President of the Community of Madrid wishes to promote hunting in the sierra.
Panoramic Views
Cartography
- Map "Guide to Sierra de Guadarrama 1:50.000", edited by I.G.N.. ISBN 84-234-3412-0
- Map "Guadarrama sightseeing 1:25.000", edited by Alpine publishing. ISBN 84-8090-159-4
- Map "Sightseeing at La Pedriza 1:25.000", edited by Alpine publishing. ISBN 84-8090-160-8
- Map "Sierra de Guadarrama 1:50.000", edited by The Green Store. ISBN 84-611-3107-X