Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park
Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park | |
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Parque Natural de Sierra de María-Los Vélez | |
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![]() Map of Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park | |
Location | Almería, Spain |
Nearest city | Vélez-Blanco |
Coordinates | 37°42′27″N 2°07′55″W / 37.7075°N 2.132°W |
Area | 226.7 km2 (87.5 sq mi) |
Established | 1987 |
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/20141218_-_Sierra_de_Maria-Los_Velez_Natural_Park_-_Air_Photo_%28West_Side%29_by_sebaso.jpg/220px-20141218_-_Sierra_de_Maria-Los_Velez_Natural_Park_-_Air_Photo_%28West_Side%29_by_sebaso.jpg)
Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park (Parque Natural de Sierra de María-Los Vélez) is a natural park of Spain. It is situated in Almería province in the municipalities of Chirivel, Maria, Vélez-Blanco, Vélez-Rubio.
It was designated a natural park in 1987 and covers 226.7 km2 (87.5 sq mi). The park encompasses pine forests and supports a varied flora, including some species unique to the Sierra.[1] Its highest peak is the María, a limestone outcrop of 2,045 metres (6,709 ft).[1]
Fauna
[edit]There are 100 bird species, including 17 species of birds of prey, and the park was declared a Special Protection Area in 2002. There is a butterfly subspecies of parnassius apollo, which can only be found in this area.
Archaeology
[edit]The area was inhabited in prehistoric times, and archaeological remains from Paleolithic and Neolithic times have been excavated. Sites include:
- the Neolithic hilltop fort at Cerro de las Canteras, near the Corneras river.
- The Cueva de los Letreros (“Cave of the Signboards”), near Vélez Rubio, is famous for its cave paintings, and is part of a World Heritage Site, Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula.[2]
- La Cueva del Gabar near Vélez-Blanco also has cave paintings.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c "Sierra Maria-Los Velez Natural Park, Flora and Fauna of Andalucía, Southern Spain". Andalucia.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
External links
[edit]![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park
- (in Spanish) PARQUE NATURAL SIERRA MARÍA-LOS VÉLEZ
- (in Spanish) Sierra María - Los Vélez Natural Park