Reserva Natural Especial de Azuaje, Special nature reserve in Gran Canaria, Spain.
The Reserva Natural Especial de Azuaje is a protected area covering about 61 hectares within a ravine that separates the municipalities of Firgas and Moya in northern Gran Canaria. The landscape contains several vegetation zones shaped by the conditions within the valley.
The area was designated as a protected reserve in 1987 and reclassified in 1994 to safeguard its natural and cultural value. Within the valley lie archaeological remains, including pre-Hispanic engravings at Guadalupe, left by earlier inhabitants.
The old water mills and ruins of the Azuaje Hotel-Spa show how local people have valued and used natural resources for generations. These structures reveal the way communities once relied on the flowing water for daily life and livelihood.
A hiking trail of about 5 kilometers runs through the area, passing through different vegetation zones with roughly 160 meters of elevation change. Wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water, as the sun can be intense even within the valley.
The permanent water course flowing through the Azuaje valley creates a rare habitat for freshwater animals and plants found nowhere else in this dry region. This water source makes the ravine a refuge for species that could not otherwise survive in this landscape.
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