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This granite massif of great
ecological interest and outstanding beauty, is noted especially
for its vast forests and varied fauna. There are a number
of streams in the surrounding area such as the Aitzondo with
its 100 m waterfall.
The Aiako Harria Natural Park is located on the foothills
of the Pyrenees, in the eastern part of the province of Guipúzcoa.
It includes a Palaeozoic massif containing outcrops of the
oldest materials in the Basque Country. Eruptions of volcanic
rock metamorphosised the Palaeozoic materials on the surface
and today, erosion has revealed the vivid granite mass of
Aiako Harria. This singular arrangement of layers of different
materials represents one of the geological marvels of the
Basque Country.
Aiako Harria comprises a series of narrow, steep-sided valleys,
ravines and waterfalls. In spite of the fact that some areas
of the Park are covered by conifer plantations, there are
also stretches of natural forest such as the mixed forest
of oak and beech of Añarbe, the forest of Pendulate and Pyrenean
oak of Endara and the beech wood of Oianleku. In addition
to these woods and forests, the most singular types of vegetation
due to their biological interest are the small areas of sphagnum
or peat moss, which grow between silica rocks, and communities
of plants in protected areas close to small streams.
The fauna found on the Park corresponds basically to the Euro
Siberian type. There are 147 species of vertebrates, the most
important of which are forest species such as roe deer and
wild boar, Griffin vultures that form colonies high up on
the crags and cliffs, and aquatic animals such as salmon.
However, this area is characterised not only by natural formations
but by the old mines that exist in the Park. The most important
of these is the Roman mine of Arditurri. The remains of these
industrial installations, dotted all over Aiako Harria, form
a very peculiar landscape: Ventilation shafts, mine entrances,
railways, etc. form part of this important historical and
industrial heritage. This is also the case of the military
fortifications, the Erlaitz fort and others, that also represent
an important part of the history of the region.
On the other hand, there are abundant remains of prehistoric
cultures: dolmens, burial mounds and especially cromlechs,
evidence of the funeral rituals practised by the Neolithic
peoples of this area. The great demand for recreational facilities
has led to the creation of a large number of picnic areas
in Aiako Harria, most of these with direct access from the
main roads in the area. |
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