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Spain Park -Guide National Parks in Spain

A total of 1,226 square kms. of the 500,000 that make up Spain have been set aside as National Parks. The Spanish Pyrenees holds some of the best wildlife habitats in Europe, with alpine wildlife merging with Mediterranean to provide a wealth of interest and activity.

Doñana National Park is located in the provinces of Seville and Huelva at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river. It occupies some 50,720 hectares of land and contains three complementary ecosystems: Marsh, or wetlands; the coastal dunes; and the Atlantic beaches. These characteristics and its warm climate - the low temperature in winter is 8ºC - make this an ideal place for birds migrating south to Africa in winter as well as the wintering place for other species that spend the summer in northern Europe.

Tablas de Daimiel National Park occupies 1,982 hectares and is located in the region known as "La Mancha Humeda", or wet La Mancha. It is formed by large plains with a large number of wetlands and endoreic areas in which over 200 different bird species can be observed.
Montaña de Covadonga National Park occupies 17,000 hectares and is located on the western peak of the Picos de Europa Mountain Range between the Cares and Dobra rivers. It is the natural habitat of several animal and plant species threatened with extinction, such as the holly, the royal eagle and the capercaille, a kind of woodcock.

Ordesa National Park has 16,000 hectares and is located in the Huesca Pyrenees near the National Park of the French Pyrenees. It constitutes a perfectly preserved natural enclave and is home to the only herd of Pyrenees mountain goats in existence.

Aigües Tortes and Lago de Sant Maurici National Park has a surface area of 10,230 hectares and isolated in the Lleida Pyrenees. Surrounded by mountain peaks that are 3,000 meters high, it contains cascades and high mountain lakes set in valleys and formed by ancient glaciers.

Cañadas del Teide National Park consists of 13,500 hectares and is located on the island of Tenerife. Teide Mountain, of volcanic origin, is 3,717 meters high and snowcapped in contrast to the subtropical climate of the island. Among the rich flora are 50 autoctonous species, some of which grow exclusively in this park.

Timanfaya National Park occupies 5,170 hectares and is located on the island of Lanzarote. It consists of relatively recently formed volcanic formations from the 18th and 19th centuries. There are also some autoctonous plant species among its sparse flora. Among its animal species is the Haria lizard.

Caldera de Taburiente National Park occupies 4,690 hectares and is located on the island of La Palma. It consists of a giant caldera formed by erosion, with a depth of between 600 and 900 meters and rims that rise up to some 2,400 metres.

Garajonay National Park occupies 3,974 hectares and is located on the island of Gomera. It has the most important laurisylvan forests remaining on the Canary Archipelago.

Maritimo-Terrestre National Park of the Cabrera Archipelago, with 1,836 hectares, is the largest non-populated island in the Mediterranean. Regarding fauna, the Eleonor falcon is abundant, and there are autoctonous wall lizards and flocks of sea birds.