Away from the cities and the tourist resorts
there is another, more serene, Spanish outdoor scene. A diverse and contrasting
land of mountains and plains, forests and deserts, little known waterways
and hidden coastlines. And the best wildlife in Europe. This much you probably
know already. But how about the nitty gritty, those little factoids
that show up the true
'experto'? Bend your brain with these:
What is Tabernas?
What is transhumance?
Where does cork come from?
What trees would you associate with Elche (near Alicante)?
Which is the most endangered Spanish carnivore?
What is El Pardo?
What is Spain's favourite picnic food?
What is a "gallipato"?
What are Enciso and Cornago, in La Rioja, famous for?
Spain's climate is...
Does Spain have any venomous snakes?
Spain's highest mountain is in...
Which is Spain's longest river?
Where is Spain's rainiest village?
What is a dehesa?
Answers...
What is Tabernas?
Europe's only desert, near Almería, in south-eastern Spain. A
12,000 hectare bowl of sun-scorched hills and gulleys between the Sierra
de los Filabres and the Sierra de Alhamilla.
Best reached from the road to Gérgal, which branches off the
A340 between Almería and the village of Tabernas. Its desolate beauty
and scarred landscapes have long attracted travellers, naturalists and
film directors (a young Clint Eastwood made his name here in Sergio Leone's
'Dollars' trilogy).
Spaghetti Western theme parks aside, Tabernas is home to animal and
plant species not commonly found elsewhere in Europe: Look out for typical
African birds such as Trumpeter Finch or Dupont's Lark. Rain, when it comes,
is torrential and briefly turns the desert into a dramatic carpet of wild
flowers.
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What is transhumance?
A traditional cattle migration. In Spain herds of sheep and cows were
traditionally taken up into the hills for the summer pastures and returned
to the valleys in the winter. Up to about 50 years ago it was common for
herds to walk hundreds of kilometres between the green mountains in the
north and the mild southern lowlands of Andalucía and Extremadura.
Transhumance created the "cañadas" and "cordeles", drovers paths, long-distance green corridors of exceptional environmental
value which are now endangered. For more info on transhumance see
"The new cattle drovers.
A conversation with Jesus Garzón".
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Where does cork come from?
The bark of the Cork oak, Quercus suber. The "descorche" or removal
of the outer portion of the bark is a skilled operation which takes place
every 8 to 12 years, normally in early summer. Cork oaks also produce acorns
for free-range pigs, tannins for the leather industry and high quality
charcoal. This tree is, together with the Holm oak, the main component
of Spain's
lowland evergreen oak forests. It is found mainly in mild, slightly
humid, chalk-free areas of western Spain and also in parts of Catalonia.
The striking orange coloration of freshly stripped Cork oaks in the setting
sun is one of Wild Spain's memorable sights
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What
trees would you associate with Elche (near Alicante)?
Palm trees. Elche boasts one of the largest date palm concentrations
in Europe: More than half a million trees. Brought originally by the Phoenicians
from the Eastern Mediterranean . Protected since the days of James I of
Aragon, who, upon conquering the city, specifically forbade locals from
cutting them down. The best specimens are in the municipal park and Huerto del Cura.
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Which is the most
endangered Spanish carnivore?
The lynx. The Iberian or Pardel lynx (Lynx pardinus) is found only in
the Iberian peninsula. Smaller than the European lynx, its northern counterpart,
the Iberian lynx is considered by the International Union for the Conservation
of Nature to be the most endangered cat in the world. A fragmented and
dwindling population of less than 200 individuals is scattered throughout
south-western Spain, with maybe a few dozen in Portugal. It has been most
studied in the National Park of Doñana although
its most stable populations are found in Sierra Morena. Main threats
are the decline of rabbit numbers, its main prey, and also poaching, road-kills
and habitat destruction.
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What is El Pardo?
A wildlife reserve. 2,220 hectares, mainly of holm oak forest, just
outside Madrid. For many centuries is was a royal hunting ground,
closed off to the public; even now access is restricted. This has enabled an unusually high
degree of conservation. Deer and wild boar are specially plentiful as are
birds of prey, including the highly endangered Spanish Imperial Eagle.
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What is Spain's favourite
picnic food?
Tortilla de patatas = Potato omelette. Tasty, healthy and inexpensive.
It can be bought in most bars throughout Spain and eaten hot or cold. The
basic version is made from potato, eggs and, occasionally, onion. Cold
wedge-shaped pieces inserted into a crusty roll make a satisfying hiker's
mid-day snack.
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What is a "gallipato"?
A newt. "Gallipato" is the Spanish name for the Sharp-ribbed Salamander.
It is Europe's largest newt (up to 30 cm) and is found only in Iberia and
Morocco. The rows of warts along its sides are actually protrusions caused
by its ribs, hence the name. It is common in non-running water throughout
Spain, mainly in the centre and south. It is tolerant of pollution and
can
survive prolonged draught by hiding under rocks or logs.
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What
are Enciso and Cornago, in La Rioja, famous for?
Dinosaurs. This is one of the best areas in Spain to see fossilised
dinosaur tracks - real imprints in the rock over 65M years old. From the
village of Enciso take the road to Yanguas and follow the signs. A footpath,
the GR 93 links most sites. The excellent Los Cayos site is 4 km from Cornago,
on the road to Arnedo.
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Spain's climate is...
Sorry - trick question! Spain has one of the most diverse range of climates
in Europe.
Spain's main climate zones are: (1) Oceanic (humid temperate). The northern
"green" seaboard, from Galicia to the western Pyrenees. Temperature variations
are small and, compared to the rest of Spain, it rains a lot, a lot of
the time. (2) Mediterranean. The eastern seaboard, from Catalonia to Gibraltar.
Hot dry summers and mild winters. (3) Continental (inland Mediterranean).
Centre and east of the mesetas, Ebro valley and inland Andalucia. Very
cold winters and hot summers. (4) Mild Continental (oceanic Mediterranean).
Eastern half of central Spain. Dry summers and mild, fairly wet, winters.
Finally, we have the tropical Canary islands, special mountain climates,
and regional curiosities like the small deserts and subtropical valleys
of Andalucía.
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Does Spain have any venomous
snakes?
Yes. Spain has a number of snake species, some of which are venomous.
Snake-bite fatalities, however, are extremely rare. Vipers, most of which
are shy and retiring, do occasionally bite humans. Three species of viper
occur in Spain: the Adder and the Asp viper in the north, and Lataste's
viper in the centre and south. The Asp viper reputedly has the most potent
poison. The only other snake of possible danger to humans is the Montpellier
snake. This is a large snake, up to 2 metres long, and fairly common in
central Spain (together with the Ladder snake this is the usual "squashed-snake-on-the-road"
of summertime travel). The good news is that, due to the backward position
of its fangs, a Montpellier snake can only bite a human if caught and handled.
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Spain's highest mountain
is in...
The Canary Islands. Teide (3,718 m), a volcano in Tenerife, Canary islands,
is Spain's highest peak. The two follower's up are both in the mainland:
Mulhacén (3,478m), in Sierra Nevada, and Aneto (3,404m), in the
Pyrenees.
Teide is also the third largest volcano in the world and a popular tourist
destination. You can visit by a cable car which leaves you halfway-up.
From there you can take the 5h.walk to the submit, although you will need
a permit for the final 200m. Permits are issued at the National Park office
(P. N. de Teide, Calle Emillio Calzadilla 5, 38002 Santa Cruz de Tenerife,
tel.+34 922 29 01 29, email pnteide@teleline.es). And in case you're wondering,
Teide last erupted in 1909!
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Which is Spain's longest river?
The Ebro is the longest stretch of river in Spain (910 km). The Tajo
is the longest overall (1,092 km), but only 863 km are in Spain, the remainder
flow into Portugal.
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Where is Spain's rainiest
village?
Andalucía. Grazalema (Cadiz), collects an average 2100 l/m2 of
rain per year, making it the wettest municipality in Spain. This is a curious
statistic, considering it lies at the heart of normally dry and sunny Andalucía.
It is caused by the cloud-catching effect of nearby mountain ranges, like
the Sierra del Pinar which block the passage of wet Atlantic fronts. Little
of this rain
remains on the surface however - most filters through the porous limestone
forming underground caverns and rivers. Such is the origin of the large
Hundidero Gato complex or the Cueva Pileta, two of the Natural Park's better
know caves.
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What is a dehesa?
A type of forest. Dehesas are mature masses of trees - holm and cork
oaks, usually - which have been thinned out for the benefit of man. They
are typical of the western Iberian peninsula; the best Spanish examples
are in Extremadura and
the province of Salamanca.
The term dates back to the XVIth century, when landowners appealed to
the monarchy for permission to provide enclosure, 'defesa' in Old Spanish,
against the excesses of transhumant merino sheep.
Dehesa landscapes are a thing of great beauty and diverse wildlife;
they are also a traditional example of sustainable development. The trees
provide firewood and give shade and humidity to the nutrient-poor soil,
allowing for extensive agriculture and free range farming (traditionally
of pigs, which feed off the acorns). More modern uses of dehesas include
hunting and ecotourism.
Sadly, dehesas face an uncertain future due to overgrazing - which impedes
regeneration - and a little understood condition known as 'la seca' which
is killing off large numbers of mature trees.
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