Spain has a rich variety of over 10.5 million hectares of forestland containing 105 native tree species. Some of the most notable and tourist-friendly forests include: 1) The beech woods of Saja and oak forest of Ucieda in Cantabria, known for its legends and nature reserve of 7,000 hectares. 2) The Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park in Aragon, containing glaciers and large expanses of well-preserved forest. 3) The Montseny woods in Barcelona, featuring Mediterranean, Atlantic, and sub-Alpine forests types with oak, beech, juniper, chestnut, and

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FORESTRY TOURISM (FROM ONE FOREST TO THE NEXT)
Spain has the richest variety of forests in Europe, with the the region around the defile of Los Bayos (Sajambre, León),
exceptions of Russia and the Scandinavian countries. There and the area leading into the gorge of Cares (Vegabaño, Caín).
are 105 different species of autochthonous tree, but only ●●Forests of Brañosera (Palencia). Bears and
80 of them grow in the form of forests. According to the capercaillies roam free around La Pernía, Salcedillo, the
Spanish Forestry Inventory, Spain has more than ten and Santullán Valley and the Brañosera Canal.
a half million hectares of woodland. These are some of the ●●Forest of Valsaín (Segovia). Its northern edge runs
forests tourists can visit: from Navacerrada to La Granja de San Ildefonso, while
its western side stretches down to the valley and pass of
■■GALICIA AND ASTURIAS Fuenfría.
●●Las Fragas do Eume (La Coruña). One of the finest ●●Tejera Negra and Montejo de la Sierra (Segovia,
Atlantic forests in Europe. The predominant tree is the oak, Madrid). Among the few patches of beech forest left in the
followed by the birch, the willow and the alder. Central Range are those of Puerto de la Quesera in Segovia
●●Forest of Somiedo (Asturias). One of the last refuges and Montejo de la Sierra in Madrid.
in Spain of the brown bear, and a habitat for various birds
and mammals. ■■EXTREMADURA AND CASTILE-LA MANCHA
●●Forest of Muniellos and beech woods of Hermo ●●Chestnut woods of Hervás (Cáceres, Salamanca).
(Asturias). Formed by the oak Large specimens in surroundings
forest of Muniellos and the beech of great beauty.
woods surrounding the monastery ●●Monfragüe (Cáceres). Of
of Hermo and the River Narcea. enormous value to bird life, this
is one of the principal reserves of
■■CANTABRIA AND Mediterranean vegetation.
NAVARRE ●●Forests of the Upper
●●Beech woods of Saja and Tagus (Guadalajara). Dense and
oak forest of Ucieda (Cantabria). extensive forests of pine, lime,
The beech wood of Saja, a forest hazel, maple, elm, yew and holly.
of many legends, is a nature
reserve covering 7,000 hectares. ■■ANDALUSIA
●●Señorío de Bertiz ●●Sierra de Segura (Jaén).
(Navarre). More than 2,000 Together with the mountains
hectares of dense vegetation, of Cazorla and Las Villas, it
now under protection as a nature forms one of the largest nature
reserve. reserves in Spain, with forests of
●●Forest of Irati (Navarre). A European black pine.
fully protected reserve with large ●●Cork oak forests and
numbers of beech and fir trees mountains of El Aljibe (Cadiz,
rising to heights of over 40 metres. Malaga). With spectacular
cork oaks, alders and
■■ARAGON AND CATALONIA rhododendrons.
●●Ordesa and Monte Perdido ●●Spanish fir woods
(Huesca). A national park with of Grazalema and Sierra de la
glaciers and large expanses of Nieves (Cadiz, Malaga). Large
forest in an excellent state of wooded areas of Spanish fir, a
preservation. type found nowhere in Europe
●●Montseny (Barcelona): Woodlands of the except for some of the mountain ranges of Andalusia.
Mediterranean, Atlantic and sub-Alpine types, with forests ●●Sierra Morena (Jaén, Córdoba, Seville, Huelva).
of holm oak, common oak, beech, juniper, chestnuts and Made up of mild gradients, the sierra is protected by nature
conifers. reserves throughout almost its entire length.
●●Puertos de Beceite (Tarragona, Castellón, Teruel).
Formed by forests of holm oak and Aleppo, Scots and ■■CANARY ISLANDS
European black pine, and even some small clumps of ●●Forest of El Canal and Los Tiles (La Palma,
beech. Tenerife). 500 hectares of laurel forest that have been
designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
■■CASTILE & LEÓN AND MADRID ●●National Park of Garajonay (La Gomera, Tenerife).
●●Forests of the Picos de Europa (León, Asturias). Declared a World Heritage Site. These laurel forests, called
Located in the Asturian borough of Ponga (forest of Peloño), laurisilvas, are remains from the Tertiary Era.
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