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Valderejo Natural Park is situated
in a wide valley surrounded by limestone cliffs. This area
marks a transition between the Atlantic and Mediterranean
climates, with warm, dry summers and winters with abundant
snowfall, providing it with a high level of biodiversity.
Species of plants and fauna typical of both weather systems
can be found in the Park. The main river in Valderejo is the
Purón, which has its source to the north of Lahoz.
Woods constitute more than 58% of the total vegetation. The
Scottish pine is the most widespread, followed by the holm
oak, beech and there is a small area covered by gall-oaks.
Meadows and crops occupy the floor of the valley, surrounding
a number of ancient villages. This vast plateau is occupied
by a mosaic of pastures and scrubland and in some places there
are outcrops of limestone rock.
The variety of ecosystems and the negligible presence of man
has favoured the development of a rich and varied fauna: large
mammals such as roebuck and wild boar, an interesting community
of medium-size carnivores, a large colony of vultures which
has become the emblem of the Park and a wide variety of a
rock and forest birds.
Valderejo Natural Park has areas of great natural and cultural
interest such as the Lahoz/Sobrón anticline, the ravine formed
by the river Purón, its numerous forests and its rural population
centres; in addition to its superb landscapes that provie
a setting for the conservation of this area's traditional
farming practices and cultural heritage, forming an interesting
mixture of nature and rural life.
The recreational and interpretation centre is located in Lalastra.
There, next to the Parketxea or Information Centre, you can
find a recreational area with facilities for children and
areas where you can picnic. There are also several restaurants
and rural guesthouses, ideal for getting your strength back
after a visit to the Park, especially if you have explored
its networks of paths (9 in all), with lengths of between
3.5 and almost 12 km. |
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