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Magical and evocative with its
limestone massifs, its rivers and streams, its rich vegetation
and fauna, myths and legends, the Aralar Natural Park captivates
both locals and visitors alike, but only skilled mountaineers
should attempt to climb the highest peaks.
The Aralar Natural Park is set in one of the most mountainous
areas in the Basque Country. This Park, famous for its stunning
landscapes, is located in the southeast of the province of
Guipúzcoa, sharing a border with the neighbouring province
of Navarre.
The centre of the massif is dominated by extensive pastures
used for grazing large flocks of sheep of the "latxa" breed.
Almost fifty shepherds farm in this area and live in huts
scattered all over the mountainside where they attend to their
flocks for much of the year (normally from the end of May
to November). This sheep-breeding tradition goes back several
thousands of years and the large numbers of megalithic monuments
are elegant proof of this: dolmens, burial mounds, cromlechs
and menhirs.
Inside the Park there are nature reserves of exceptional importance,
such as t is a he beech woods of Akaitz, famous for the large
number of yew trees, the Pardarri lapiaz and the hillsides
and valleys of the northern face of Txindoki, with very singular
species of flora and fauna, the crests of the "domo de Ataun",
the Arritzaga valley and the glacial circus of Pardelutz of
exceptional geological interest, large, leafy forests, etc.
Griffin vultures, Egyptian vultures, golden eagles and even
lammergeyers can be seen flying over this area. European minks
and Pyrenean desmans can be found in the streams and rivers
that descend from the mountain tops. The Aralar Natural Park
is well-equipped for leisure and recreational pursuits. The
characteristic villages and farmhouses of this area, representative
of the countryside in Guipúzcoa, are one of the major attractions
for the general visitor to Aralar.
Some of the main features of most interest to mountaineers
are its well-known peaks such as Txindoki, the mountain pastures,
the presence of megalithic monuments, and so on. Several Large
and Small Routes of the Mountain Federation (GR and PR) are
marked as mountaineering itineraries, and there are routes
for walkers between recreational areas. The Parketxea complex,
which consists of the information centre and a hostel, has
been built on the Lizarrusti mountain pass. |
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