Despeñaperros, Natural park in Santa Elena, Spain.
Despeñaperros is a protected natural area in Jaén Province where the river of the same name has carved deep gorges through the Sierra Morena mountain range. Vertical rock walls rise more than 500 meters (roughly 1,640 feet) and form a narrow corridor between massive granite formations.
The area served for centuries as the only practical route between Andalusia and the Castilian highlands, forcing armies and merchants to pass through the narrow gorge. In 1212 the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa took place nearby, marking a turning point in the Reconquista on the Iberian Peninsula.
The passage takes its name from an old legend about bandits who threw travelers from the cliffs, with the literal translation meaning "dog-hurling". Today visitors walk safely along trails winding through gorges so narrow that the sky appears as a thin ribbon overhead.
The reserve covers 7,649 hectares with numerous marked routes suitable for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Informational panels along the trails explain local flora and fauna, helping visitors learn about the surroundings.
The park hosts thirty endemic species, including rare plants and animals found only in this region. A geological formation called Los Órganos displays vertical rock layers resembling organ pipes in a cathedral, creating a popular spot for photographs.
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