UPPER
TAGUS NATURAL PARK
LOCATION
The Upper Tagus Natural Park is between the southeastern province of Guadalajara and east of Cuenca. It was declared as such in April 2000. the Upper Tagus Natural Park has an area of 105,721 hectares and protected surroundings of 70,544 hectares, giving a total of 176.265 hectares.
FLORA
The Upper Tagus Natural Park is important for its flora, because it can boast of having 20% of all the species in the Spanish peninsula.
VEGETATION
The extensive pine woods, with their varieties of wild pines, larches and resin pines, are impressive. Underneath the pines are masses of gall oaks and holm oaks. They form narrow bands of vegetation all along the rivers and streams. You can see black birches, willows, elms, limes, hazelnut bushes, and other species.
FAUNA
The rocky sides bordering the river gorges are the home of substantial populations of birds of prey, such as the golden eagle, the Bonelli's eagle, the peregrine hawk, the Egyptian vulture, the Griffon vulture and the eagle owl. The area is occupied by small groups of mountain goats. In the mass of leafy vegetation, you will find goshawks, sparrow-hawks, the booted and short-toed eagles, buzzards, jays, woodpeckers, and the smaller birds like tits, finches, etc. The wooded regions are ideal for the relaxation and refuge of doe, stags and wild boar. From sunset to sunrise they graze on the pastures and open areas nearby. Far more discreet, but no less interesting, are the invertebrates to be found in the pine and hawthorn forests in the highlands, such as the spectacular butterflies Parnasius apo and Graellsia isabellae.
GEOLOGY
The Upper Tagus Natural Park has very unique geological features, with a rich and varied geological heritage. But if anything stands out from the geological point of view in the Upper Tagus is geodiversity.
CLIMATE
The height and location of the Upper Tagus decisively influence the climate, with a hight number of sunny days per year and many beautiful and clear blue skies
RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO VISITORS
-Do not make any noise which might disturb the animals or annoy other visitors.
-Place your rubbish in the containers located in the recreation facilities.
-Free camping is prohibited.
-Respect the flora and fauna of the Natural Park.
-Do not use soaps and detergents in the river.
-Keep domestic animals on a leash.
-Respect the sign-boarding and indications given by the Park employees.
Written by: Elsa y Juanjo
