PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS IN THE PROVINCE OF ALMERÍA

Transcription

1 PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS IN THE PROVINCE OF ALMERÍA ACADEMIIC YEAR GROUP: 6 th A

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3 INDEX PARQUE NATURAL CABO DE GATA-NÍJAR 3 PARQUE NATURAL SIERRA MARÍA-LOS VÉLEZ.16 PARAJE NATURAL SIERRA ALHAMILLA 27 PARQUE NACIONAL SIERRA NEVADA..33 PARAJE NATURAL DESIERTO DE TABERNAS 42 2

4 DANIEL ALARCÓN RODRÍGUEZ, LUCÍA MÁRQUEZ MONTOYA, LAURA RODRÍGUEZ BONAL, MARINA MÁRQUEZ RODRÍGUEZ, LIDIA TIJERAS CARO 3

5 1. LOCALIZATION AND PLACES OF INTEREST The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Níjar is in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, in the province of Almería Protected natural areas in Andalucía 4

6 Some of the most interesting towns are: - San José: it is considered the capital of the Natural Park for being the largest population within the park and having all of the necessary services. - Rodalquilar: it is found in the heart of the park. For many years there were gold mines but they became abandoned. - Aguamarga: it is one of the most enchanting villages. It is made up of very pretty white houses. - Carboneras: part of its village is outside of Cabo de Gata-Níjar, exactly 20% of it. Traditionally, Carboneras was a fishing town, and although fishing is still very important, it has been transforming its economic model towards tourism and industry. - Las Negras: it is a beautiful and spectacular corner of geology and fishing environment. In Las Negras, we can find vegetable patches watered with the water that comes from small waterways in the streams. It is ideal for relaxation and tranquillity. San José is one of the prettiest villages in the area Las Negras is a perfect place to visit Some places of interest are: the Lighthouse of Cabo de Gata, Las Salinas, Arrecife de Las Sirenas and Valle de Rodalquilar. 5

7 Arrecife de las Sirenas Rodalquilar Valley The most well-known beaches are: Genoveses, Mónsul, Playa de Los Muertos, El Playazo, Los Escullos, Cala Rajá, Cala Arena and Cala del Plomo Cala Rajá and Arrecife del Dedo Playa de los Muertos, near Carboneras 2. CONSERVATION ADVICE Below are some pieces of advice to maintain the surroundings clean and respected: Camping is strictly prohibited Lighting fires is prohibited Respect the flora and fauna of this natural park Respect the signs Park vehicles in the reserved area Submarine fishing is prohibited Do not litter 6

8 3. FLORA In the park we can find various types of flora. On the volcanic slopes, there are wild olive trees, periploca trees and fan palms (chamaerops humilis), the only indigenous palm of the continent. The presence of esparto shrubs and rosemary are also important as they cover the plains, and the algodonosa compesta (otanthus maritimus) which is found on sandy beaches and dunes. We must also mention the jujube tree (ziziphus lotus). One of the most characteristic plants are the agaves or pitas, which were introduced here in the middle of the 20 th century in order to produce polyester. Nowadays it has become part of the image of Cabo de Gata and a large part of the province. Algodonosa compuesta Azufaifo loto 7

9 Fan palm in the Mirador de las Amatistas Pitas near the Genoveses beach 4. FAUNA The animals that live there have adapted to its dry climate. The mammals that we can find here include rabbits, hedgehogs, badgers, hares, shrews, wild boars Shrew The reptile and amphibian group is much more abundant. Some of them include: Montpellier snakes, ladder snakes, ocellated lizards, leprous tortoises, running toads There are also many types of birds, within which we will note the pink flamingo as it is very well known in this area. 8

10 Pink flamingo Other birds are Bonelli s eagle, the golden owl, the yellow-footed seagull, the Calandra lark, the Peregrine falcon Scuba diving in this place is incredible thanks to its great variety of marine animals such as the bottlenose dolphin, sea bass, red shrimp, swimcrabs, grouper, moray eels, bullet tuna Swimcrab Moray eel The invertebrates are much more visible than the rest of the animals. Some of them are: the praying mantis, ants, octopuses 5. GASTRONOMY The gastronomy in Cabo de Gata is based on its agriculture and the products from the sea. The preparation of its dishes surprised us due to its lack of ingredients and delicious flavours. 9

11 Next, we will leave you with a recipe that is typical in Cabo de Gata: Papaviejos - Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of dry yeast 1/2 kg of flour 6 eggs The grating of 1 lemon 4 large potatoes 1/2 l of milk, sugar and cinnamon - Preparation 1.- Wash the potatoes well and boil them whole with the skin 2.- Afterwards, peel them and use a potato masher to mash them 3.- Transfer the purée to an adequate dish and slowly mix in the flour, beaten eggs, the grating of lemon and the milk. Mix it well until it becomes a thick dough. 4.- In a pan, heat the olive oil with lemon peel and remove when fried. 5.- In this oil, fry the dough spoonful by spoonful, and once they are fried, place them in the mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Papaviejos 10

12 6. CINEMA In the Algarrobico beach, the city of Aqaba was build and a large part of Lawrence of Arabia, a classic movie, was filmed. Its director David Lean won seven oscars for this movie. In addition to this movie, the Park has been the setting for many other movies, advertisements and series such as: Cosmic girl (Jamiroquai): Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados (David Trueba): 11

13 Mini Cooper: The 6th season of Game of Thrones was filmed in Carboneras Assassin's Creed was filmed in Cabo de Gata-Níjar 8. USE The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata-Níjar has many resources that humans have taken advantage of for many years. An important part of the Natural Park is its agriculture. Other resources that can be noted include the Salinas, or saltmines, where they extract salt. Furthermore, farming and fishing have been very important for its economic production. In its day, mines were also very important, such as the goldmines of Rodalquilar. Today, the tourism sector is, without a doubt, the most notable. 12

14 Saltmines of Cabo de Gata Abandoned goldmines in Rodalquilar 9. HISTORY In Barranquete, remains have been found from a necropolis dating back to the Copper Age. Following this settlement, the Argar Culture would arrive, the Tartessians and the Phoenicians, who would call the zone the Ágatas Promontory. With the arrival of the Romans, activity related to its natural resources was increased: salt extraction, mining, fishing and saltfish plants. The arrival of the Arabs resulted in Almería becoming one of the most important areas of the Empire. With the Catholic Monarchs and the expulsion of the Moriscos, the age of descent began, heightened due to the insecurity of the attack from the Turkish and Berber pirates. In order to solve the situation, the construction of a defensive system began, on the part of the Catholic Monarchs, although it would be Felipe II who significantly led the upset. Some of the constructions that were built include: Torregarcía, the Torreón of Cabo de Gata, the Torre de San Pedro and the Torre de la Velablanca. The coastal defensive system was completed during the reign of Carlos III. The Castillo de San Felipe was built in Los Escullos, as well as that of San Ramón in the Playazo de Rodalquilar. In the 19th century the mine would be recovered. Lastly, we must note that at the end of the 20th century, the zone was named a Natural Park in

15 Prehistoric necropolis in Barranquete Roman saltfish plant in Torregarcía San Felipe castle (Los Escullos) San Ramón castle (El Playazo, Rodalquilar) 10. BIBLIOGRAPHY Web pages: Junta de Andalucía. Ventana del visitante de los espacios Naturales: Parque Natural Cabo de Gata Níjar [en línea] [ fecha de consulta: 4 de abril de 2017]. Disponible en: Colaboradores de Wikipedia. Parque Natural: Cabo de Gata Níjar. [en línea] Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre, (año de creación). [fecha de consulta: 16 de abril 2017] Disponible en: De Gata.com. Parque Natural Cabo de Gata Níjar. [en línea] [fecha de consulta 16 de abril de 2017] Disponible en: Parque Natural Cabo de Gata Níjar [ en línea] [fecha de consulta: 4 abril 2017] Disponible: 14

16 Books: BALASCH BLANCH, Enric y RUIZ ARRANZ, Yolanda. Conoce el Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata Níjar. España: El Olivo, ISBN F. MARÍN, José Manuel y MOLINA HERNÁNDEZ, Macarena. Guía oficial del Parque Natural Cabo de Gata Níjar. España: Almuzara, ISBN Junta de Andalucía. Guía oficial del Parque Natural Cabo de Gata Níjar. Sevilla. Consejería de Turismo, Comercio y Deporte,

17 JOSÉ Mª UCLÉS IZQUIERDO, ROSA Mª ANDÚJAR VILLEGAS, EDURNE BENETE SÁNCHEZ DAVID RODRÍGUEZ CARO, NORA BERBEL CUADRADO 16

18 1. INTRODUCTION The name Sierra María Los Vélez comes from the fact that there are two towns that are called Vélez Blanco and Vélez Rubio and another called María. Vélez Blanco Vélez Rubio María 2. LOCALIZATION Sierra María Los Vélez natural park is a mountainous area situated in the north of Almería. It extends past municipalities including Chirivel, María, Vélez Blanco and Vélez Rubio. 17

19 Localization of Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park 3. CLIMATE Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park has a Mediterranean mountain climate, and is dry in the summer with high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night. In the winter, it is humid with low temperatures and frequent snows. 18

20 Snow-capped Vélez Blanco 4. LANDSCAPE Together, the rocky nature, agrarian activity and the climate form a unique landscape. In the most humid areas, there are small forests of Black pines, and in the shade, there are Aleppo pines and oak trees that have adapted to these conditions. The elevation of Sierra María and other mountains that join together make up a mountain chain, with the highest mountain being Alto de la Burrica, with metres in altitude. Between Chirivel and Huéscar a very beautiful landscape has formed, with pretty valleys and mountains that become covered with snow, further highlighting the contrast with the arid landscape. El Alto de la Burrica 5. FLORA There are pine trees growing from the base of the mountain up to metres. In humid areas, there are small forests of Corsican pines and deciduous woods. In the highest zones, we can find juniper trees. 19

21 Juniper tree Corsican Pine Forest Juniper tree Deciduous forests 6. FAUNA Out of all the birds, the most notable are the birds of prey, such as the golden owl, barn owls, common little owls, sparrow hawks, eagles and, above all, the goshawk. Goshawk Golden owl In addition, we can find steppe birds such as the quail, the sison and the alcaraván. 20

22 With regard to mammals, we must mention genets, badgers, and the mountain cat, which is in danger of extinction. Some insectivores include bats, hedgehogs and shrews. Mountain cat With respect to the amphibians, there is the running toad, the common frog and the spurred frog. There are few amphibians due to the scarcity of water. Various reptiles worth mentioning include: the bastarda, the salamander, the water snake and the grape tortoise. Grape tortoise Salamander The most important invertebrates are the butterflies, such as the Hemoptera Corpae, the Pseudochazara and the Parnassius Apollo, which is in danger of extinction. Parnassius Apollo 21

23 7. USES Historically, dry farming, ovine farming and the exploitation of wood have been very important. Although not as significant, aromatic plants were also cultivated. Nowadays, with regard to hunting, the strategic capturing of partridges is still very important in some areas. In the park, agricultural activity is rare, with the main crops being dryfarming cereals as well as irrigation fruit trees and almond trees. Industrialisation is reduced, but remains varied because here you can find almost all of the productive sectors. Almond cultivation is important in the area Hunting 8. PLACES OF INTEREST Some of the most important places are: - Castillo de Vélez Blanco: It was built by Pedro Fajardo y Chacón in the 16th century. Its outer image is of a castle with an important defence system built with weapons on the corners in order to protect the entire castle in battle. Its interior courtyard and the noble rooms are a good example of the Spanish Renaissance style. 22

24 Vélez Blanco Castle - Cueva de los Letreros: it is situated in Vélez Blanco. There are cave paintings that are over years old. In these paintings, scenes were discovered that depict activities that the first inhabitants of the southeast of the peninsula carried out. There are also pictures depicting animals such as goats, deer, etc. It was in these caves where the Indalo figure was found, which is now the symbol of Almería. The caves were declared a National Historical Monument in Cave paintings Other places of interest include: Cueva de la Gitana. Fuentes de María y Vélez Blanco. La Alfahuara. Hoya de Taibena. 23

25 Mirador Collado de las Arenas. Mirador la Dehesa. Mirador La Sabina. Mirador Puerto del Peral. Mirador Puerto del Morral. Jardín botánico Umbría de la Virgen. Área recreativa La Piza. Área recretiva Los Alamicos. 9. GASTRONOMY The gastronomy of the zone has always been varied, nutritious and healthy. It includes meat, fruit and vegetables, and is sufficiently calorically dense for the people to last through winter. Traditional matanzas, hunting and pure olive oil are also noted in this category. During Christmas, it is customary to eat rice with turkey, and during Carnaval, cod cakes are traditional. During Lent, potaje de garbanzos con bacalao, potaje de acelgas, trigo de vigilia and fried donuts. Traditional matanza Fried donuts 24

26 10. CELEBRATIONS AND TRADITIONS VÉLEZ BLANCO: There is a lot of interest in music in Vélez Blanco and songs in church, with los Dolores de la Cuaresma and the Christmas concerts being some examples. During the third week of June, the Feria de Muestras de los Vélez and las Jornadas Medievales en el Castillo de los Fajardo are celebrated. La Feria Medieval recreates medieval times in Almería and is accompanied by other cultural events. During the second week of August, celebrations in honour of the Santo Cristo de la Yedra, the patron of the village, are held. During this celebration there are floats, people play and have wine and lots of food. During this week, the Gunpowder Festival is also celebrated. VÉLEZ RUBIO: On the first, second and third of February we can enjoy las máscaras. The Pasos procession and the Easter processions are also very notable. Afterwards, we have the first week of august where the summer festivals are celebrated, and during the second week, we have the celebrations for Santo Cristo de la Yedra. Lastly, during Christmas, the streets are filled with music and dances, and the Day of the Innocents is of great importance to the village. CHIRIVEL: The Rosario de la Aurora is the most traditional festival. Other celebrations are La Lumbre de San Antón, on the 16th of January, and Misas de Gozo, a few days before Christmas. MARÍA: The last Sunday of April the day of the Virgen de la Cabeza is celebrated. This is celebrated again on the 15th of august when the Romería and the Misa Rociera take place. 25

27 11. BIBLIOGRAPHY - Book: - Instituto de Velezano de Turismo. Sierra María los Vélez. Edición especial para el consorcio Los Vélez. Almería: León: Everest, ISBN Web pages: - Junta de Andalucía Web oficial de turismo en Andalucía [en línea] [fecha de consulta: 27 de abril 2017]. Disponible en - W. Junta de Andalucía. Ventana del visitante de los espacios naturales [en línea] [fecha de consulta 12 de abril de 2017]. Disponible en: - W. Asociación Red de Conjuntos Históricos y de Arquitectura Populares de Andalucía. Red Patrimonio.com [en línea] [fecha de consulta 27 de abril de 2017]. Disponible en: http//bit.ly/2q3uofd. - A. García-Pana, Daniel, Rodríguez, José Luis. HISTORIA Y ARTE [en línea] [fecha de consulta 27 de abril de 2017]. Disponible en: - Junta de Andalucía. Guía del Parque Natural Sierra María Los Vélez (PDF) y su entorno [en línea] [fecha de consulta: 14 de abril de 2017]. Disponible en: http.//bit.ly 2pLKDzU. - Comarca de los Vélez. Comarca los Vélez [en línea] [fecha de consulta 14 de abril de 2017]. Disponible en: 26

28 ARTURO MUÑOZ MONTERO, SEBASTIÁN RAMÓN CHEKUSHIN, MARTA SEBASTIÁN CRUZ MARIO VENTURA VILLÉN, MARI ELI MORA ÁLVAREZ 27

29 1. LOCALIZATION AND LOCALITIES INCLUDED Situated in the northeast of the city of Almería, it is found between the Desierto de Tabernas and the Bahía de Almería. It borders with the low valley of Andarax and the countryside of Níjar. This site includes the municipalities of Lucainena de las Torres, Níjar, Pechina, Rioja, Almería and Tabernas, completing an extension of hectares. Location of Sierra Alhamilla 2. FAUNA Regarding mammals, we can find wild boars, foxes, weasels and badgers. Here we can also find the most important reptile community of Almería, in which we can note the leprous tortoise and the grape tortoise. This park has been named a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) by the European Union. Within the birds of prey, we can note Bonelli s eagle, the Golden eagle, the lesser 28

30 kestrel, the Peregrine falcon and the Golden owl. Lastly, we will note some of the steppe birds that can be found at the foot of the mountain, such as the trumpeter finch. Underneath the rocks, we can find some invertebrates such as spiders, worms and grasshoppers, hidden between the shrubs. Trumpeter finch There is a large population of wild boars 3. FLORA From the botanical point of view, it is necessary to note the large expanse of oak trees. It constitutes a heirloom of vegetation from another time. On the hillsides, we can find plants and shrubs such as agave plants, thyme, marjoram, etc. Repopulation of black pines Remains of the oak trees 29

31 4. BRIEF HISTORY The presence of human beings begins in prehistoric times, concretely during the Millares culture ( B.C.) Throughout the entire history of the site, many different cultures have left their marks, including the Romans, Visigoths, Moriscos, Muslims and Christians. The Arabs and their agricultural techniques 5. USES Humans would extract iron and steel from their mines. They even had their own railway and calcination ovens. However, today these mines have been deserted. Nowadays, the agriculture is decreasing, and some familial artisanal, leisure and tourism businesses have appeared. We can also note a photovoltaic plant in Lucainena de las Torres and the Eolic park of Turrillas. The Photovoltaic plant in Lucainena de las Torres Eolic park in Turrillas 30

32 At the foot of the mountain, there is a landscape that was a railway station called El Chorrillo. In recent years, El Chorrillo has appeared in several films and television series such as Game of Thrones, Exodus, Assassin s Creed and Penny Dreadful. Filming of Exodus in El Chorrillo Filming of Game of Thrones in El Chorrillo 6.RISKS, DANGERS AND CONSERVATION ADVICE Sierra Alhamilla possesses some dry forests that pose a major risk of fires, which is why we shouldn t leave any type of material that could be flammable in the forest. Some examples include: cigarette butts, bottles, glass... Something else to prevent is deforestation, which we can avoid by helping to replace the trees that are cut down for new vegetation. Fire in Sierra Alhamilla 7. PLACES OF INTEREST Sierra Alhamilla has amazing landscapes such as Cerro Alfaro, the baths of Sierra Alhamilla, Isabel II dam and the iron calcination ovens in Lucainena de las Torres. There are also peaks over 1000 metres above sea level, such as Cerrón de Lucainena (1004 m), Cerro del Oro (1197m), Mina (1276 m ), Puntal (1369 m) and Colativí (1387m). 31

33 Iron calcination ovens in Lucainena de las Torres Baths in Sierra Alhamilla, used by Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY Almerinatura. Almerinatura dedicada a la naturaleza almeriense Junta De Andalucía. Sierra Alhamilla. Varios autores. Un espacio para compartir, ocio, turismo, cultura un libro abierto que te muestra Almería al detalle, para que la vivas intensamente. Colaboradores de Wikipedia. Sierra Alhamilla. Varios autores. Sierra Alhamilla. Una breve historia narrada. Varios autores. El Chorrillo, paraje de cine de Almería. José Miguel Sola Mina "El descuido" Sierra de Alhamilla, 32

34 INÉS ZAPATERO LÓPEZ, LUCÍA MORENO RIADO, MARCOS SÁNCHEZ SÁNCHEZ LAURA DIÁNEZ SANTOS, CELIA ALONSO ÁVILA 33

35 1. LOCALIZATION The National Park of Sierra Nevada is found within the Natural Park of the same name. It is shared between the provinces of Granada and Almería, but the majority of it belongs to Granada. Both are found in the autonomous community of Andalucía, Spain. Its borders stretch between the Guadalquivir Depression in the north and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. In the east we find the Nacimiento river and in the west the Lecrín valley. It is a mountain chain situated in the Penibética mountain range. It has a longitude of almost 80km, with its width varying between 15 and 30km and its surface is more than 2000 square km. Map of Andalucía (Sierra Nevada) Map of Sierra Nevada These are its four regions: - La Comarca del Poniente: it has the highest peaks, such as the Veleta - La Comarca de la Alpujarra Occidental: it has the highest village in Spain (Trevélez) and is in the south - La Comarca de la Alpujarra Oriental: it is found between Granada and Almería and has lower peaks and deserted zones. - La Comarca Norte: it is found between Granada and Almería. 34

36 2. CLIMATE The climate here is that of high mountains. The temperature varies considerably from day to night. The maximum median temperature is 20 ºC during the months of July and August. In winter, it barely surpasses 0 ºC and the minimum temperatures can go down to 10 ºC below zero. Its southern position and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea causes its relative dryness; in summer (from May to October), precipitations are rare, while in winter they come almost exclusively in the form of snow from 2000 metres. Climograph of Sierra Nevada 3. HISTORY These lands have been populated by Tartessians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans, but the Arabs were the ones who left the most remains that we can still see nowadays, such as the irrigation canals. 35

37 Irrigation canal In the Middle Ages, it was called The Land of the Sun. The Arabs inhabited it for eight centuries and made the land very fertile thanks to their irrigation systems. Nowadays, we can see the remains of the Arabs in many places. Thanks to its biodiversity and landscapes, it is specially protected. In 1986 it was named a Biosphere Reserve; in 1989, Natural Park; in 1999, National Park and in 2002, ZEPA zone (Special Area for the Protection of Birds) 4. FLORA This place has some of the most valuable flowers in Spain. There are 2,100 species, 116 of which are endangered. In the high mountains, we can find most of Sierra Nevada s exclusive flora, some 60 different species. The most important ones are: the snowflower, the mountain poppy and the Sierra Nevada violet. Snowflower Sierra Nevada violet 36

38 The mid-mountain mainly consists of forest areas, with many holm oaks and other oak trees. In lower altitudes, we can find wild olive and mastic trees. Around the rivers, it is common to find willows, elms and poplar trees. We must mention the two botanical gardens, which are la Cortijuela and Hoya de Perdaza. The Cortijuela Botanical Garden is made up of 12.4 hectares. It is found at the bottom of the Cerro de Trevenque at some 1600 metres in altitude. Its purposes are the protection, conservation, generation and investigation of the flora in these mountains. The Hoya de Pedraza Botanical Garden is made up of 16 hectares and is found in Monachil, at 1950 metres in altitude. There is a total of 198 endangered species. 5. FAUNA In the high mountains, we can find the common lark and the black redstart. In autumn, it is easy to find blackbirds, goldfinches and northern wingeaters. Some common mammals are the mountain goat, the common vole and the common weasel. In the mid-mountain zone, we can find the spotted woodpecker and the common treecreeper. In the trunks and branches, we can find the common blackbird or the great tit. On firm land the ladder snake, the running toad, the common fox and the genet can all be found. Mountain Goat Ladder Snake 37

39 6. USES The economic activity of Sierra Nevada is mainly based in agriculture, which extends from the southern side to over 2000 m in altitude. The main crops are those of dryfarming (almonds, olives, grapevines, wheat, barley and rye). In valleys and high plains, irrigation is very important (horticultural crops, potatoes, corn, fruits ). Livestock production is also important, principally sheep and goats, although the production has lessened in recent years, when the excess of cattle resulted in the impoverishment of the grasslands. Tourism is an important source of income for the zone, especially snow tourism in the ski station zone and rural tourism in Alpujarra. Sierra Nevada Ski Station Abla is one of the prettiest towns in Almerian Alpujarra The observatory of Sierra Nevada (OSN) is situated in Sierra Nevada, in the Loma de Dílar site, in Granada, and has two telescopes. Sierra Nevada Observatory 38

40 7. TOURISM This is a very good place for ski, mountain climbing, fishing or hiking enthusiasts. Numerous services exist for the clients, including routes, guides of all classes, bicycle tracks, horseback routes The SIAC (High Peak Interpretation Services) offers numerous services for tourists in the summer months such as trips in minibus with a guide who will explain the most important characteristics of the park. The main attraction of the park is the ski and snowboarding station. Other activities include the trek up to the Veleta peak, the excursion to the Caldera lagoon, or a trip around the Alpujarra. There are also hiking routes that are very interesting, such as those in Cahorros de Monachil. Veleta Peak Cahorros de Monachil 8. CURIOSITIES AND SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS There are 15 peaks that exceed metres in altitude within the park. One of them is the Mulhacén, the highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula with an altitude of metres, and the Veleta with metres. Within this park, we can find the Sierra Nevada Observatory and the most southernly ski resort in Europe, known for its warm temperatures and its abundant hours of sunshine. The National Park of Sierra Nevada is the only place in Spain nominated in the contest of the Seven Wonders of Nature. 39

41 This National Park is one of the experimental zones where international investigative sampling takes place, done by GLORIA, concerning principally alpine flora, in order to evaluate the impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of the mountainous regions of the Earth. With regard to architecture, the towns of Alpujarra are worthy of being noted for their houses situated in the mountain slopes, characterised by their small windows, flat roofs, typical chimneys, tinaos, etc. Tinao from Alpujarra Chimneys from Alpujarra 9. BIBLIOGRAPHY Colaboradores de Wikipedia. Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada (España) [En línea]. Wikipedia, La enciclopedia libre, 2005 [Fecha de consulta: 17 abril 2017]. Disponible en: Rincón Castellano. Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada [En línea] [Fecha de consulta: 17 abril 2017]. Disponible en: Junta de Andalucía. Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada Clima [En línea] [Fecha de consulta: 17 abril 2017] Disponible en: Junta de Andalucía. Espacio Natural Sierra Nevada [En línea] [Fecha de consulta: 19 abril 2017]. Disponible en: Junta de Andalucía. La Declaración del Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada [En línea] [Fecha de consulta: 19 abril 2017] Disponible en: Colaboradores de Wikipedia. Sierra Nevada (España) [en línea]. Wkipedia, la 40

42 enciclopedia libre, [Fecha de consulta: 10/04/17]. Disponible en: Ministerio de agricultura, pesca, alimentación y medio ambiente de España. Sierra Nevada: Medio natural [en línea] [fecha de consulta: 10/04/17]. Disponible en: Junta de Andalucía. Red de Espacios Protegidos de Andalucía (RENPA) - Parques Nacionales - Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada - Descripción del Parque. [en línea] [Fecha de consulta: 23 Abril2017]. Disponible 41

43 ÁNGEL RUIZ GÁLVEZ, VICTORIA SÁNCHEZ GARCÍA, MARTA REAL HERNANDO, JUANJO LÓPEZ LÓPEZ-CUADRA, AYLA ROPERO MÁRQUEZ 42

44 1. LOCALIZATION The Desierto de Tabernas is in the province of Almería (Andalusia, Spain) some 30 km north of the capital, and is a protected natural site extending 280 square kilometres. It is the only desert in Europe. Localization of the Desierto de Tabernas Natural Site 43

45 2. GEOLOGY The Desierto de Tabernas Natural Site is found between the Filabres and Alhamilla mountains, which isolate the humid currents coming from the Mediterranean Sea, producing the well-known FÖHN effect, whose name comes from a wind from the northern Alps. Föhn Effect It is possible to observe all kinds of natural formations: microcraters, fairy chimneys, gullies, salt travertines and numerous ravines. Rambla de Otero Ravine and eroded landscape Salt Travertine 3. HISTORY The name Tabernas comes from the Greek word THABERNAX. They named it that because of the great number of shops and inns that had to be established to provide supplies for troops, offer aid to the carriages and rest for the horses. 44

46 Prehistoric towns have been found such as Terrera Ventura. Some of their findings (scalers, arrowheads, spoons, etc.) can be visited in an interpretation centre. The Muslim presence was very important. They used cultivation and irrigation techniques. They cultivated olive trees, fruit trees, vineyards and some cereals. The Castle of Tabernas was built by the Arabs in the 11th century Since the 60s, the Desierto de Tabernas has been the location for advertisements, television series and movies such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Lawrence of Arabia and For a Few Dollars More Artificial Oasis in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 4. FAUNA The largest variety of fauna in the Tabernas desert is found in the humid zones near ravines. 45

47 There are birds such as: bee-eaters, goldfinches, kestrels, small owls, sparrows, trumpeter bullfinches, red partridges, peregrine falcons and eagles. Bee-eater Red partridge Regarding terrestrial animals, we can note: foxes, rabbits, hares, hedgehogs and dormice. In the desert, there is an abundance of ravines where you can find amphibians such as the common frog and the running toad, and reptiles including the red-tailed lizard, the ocellated lizard and the ladder snake. 5. FLORA Running toad Ladder snake The vegetation in Tabernas is very rich despite its scarcity, and its changes in temperature and terrain. There are two types of vegetation zones: mountainous areas and hillsides. In the mountainous areas, there is rosemary, thyme, esparto grasses and albardine. On the slopes of some hills, we can find prickly pears. 46

48 Esparto grass Thyme 6. USES In the Tabernas desert, fruit trees, olive trees, vineyards and some cereals are cultivated. The irrigation of hundreds of thousands of olives finishes with Los Molinos de Río Aguas The 3000 hours a year of sunshine has helped create the main centre of investigation into solar energy in Europe. Solar platform in Tabernas 47

49 On the other hand, the Tabernas desert has a history with film, so much so that it used to be known as the European Hollywood. Many movies have been filmed there. Some of the most well-known ones include: Exodus Vivir es fácil con los ojos cerrados The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Indiana Jones and the last crusade 48

50 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY Desierto de Tabernas Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre Mediomarino.almeriam.org/node/99 Tabernas: Un desierto al sur de Europa/Patrimonio Natural. Desierto de Tabernas- Web oficial de turismo de -Andalucia.org Fauna del Desierto de Tabernas - Almeriapedia. Flora del Desierto de Tabernas - Almeriapedia. 49

51 This project was done by: Alarcón Rodríguez, Daniel Alonso Ávila, Celia Andújar Villegas, Rosa María Benete Sánchez, Edurne Berbel Cuadrado, Nora Diánez Santos, Laura López López-Cuadra, Juan José Márquez Montoya, Lucía Márquez Rodríguez, Marina Mora Álvarez, María Elisa Moreno Riado, Lucía Muñoz Montero, Arturo Ramón Chekushin, Sebastián Real Hernando, Marta Rodríguez Bonal, Laura Rodríguez Caro, David Ropero Márquez, Ayla Ruiz Gálvez, Ángel Sánchez García, Victoria Sánchez Sánchez, Marcos Sebastián Cruz, Marta Tijeras Caro, Lidia Uclés Izquierdo, José María Ventura Villén, Mario Zapatero López, Inés María 50

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