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ARCHIVED - Spain’s largest natural park celebrates 35th birthday in Jaen, Andalusia
The Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas in the Andalusian province of Jaen was declared a natural park in 1986.
The Andalusian regional government is planning activities this year to celebrate the 35th birthday of the Parque Natural de las Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas in the province of Jaén. Covering an area of about 210,000 hectares of forest and land in the northwest of the province, the natural park is the largest in Spain and one of the oldest in Andalusia as it was officially declared as such in 1986.
The park is also the second largest in Europe and it was recognised by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1983. It was also named as a Special Protection Area for Birds in 1987, and a Special Red Natura 2000 Conservation Area in 2017.
Specific activities have yet to be announced but should be a good excuse to visit the park and discover its many attractions. Home to more than 2,000 species of flora, a thriving population of birds of prey, mountain goats, deer, wild boar and other animals, the park also boasts historical and cultural heritage attractions such as the Iberian necropolis of Peak del Becerro, the Roman villa of Quesada and the Castillo de la Iruela castle.
As well as attracting traditional rural and nature tourism, the park also appeals to nature photographers, bird watchers and archaeology tourists. Furthermore, its vast spaces and lack of light pollution make it perfect for star-gazing and the village of Don Domingo, in Santiago Pontones, was the first Starlight reserve to be named in Spain by the Starlight Foundation.
Activities will be published as the Covid pandemic continues to dictate the movement permitted and the opening of the various centres within the park.