Los Valles de Omaña y Luna Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve in León Province, Spain.
Los Valles de Omaña y Luna is a protected natural area in León Province covering more than 80,000 hectares across six municipalities. The reserve includes mountain valleys, river systems, and peaks reaching above 2,000 meters elevation between two major mountain ranges.
UNESCO designated this area as a biosphere reserve in 2005 to protect its natural resources and ecological systems. This recognition marked the beginning of coordinated conservation efforts across the region.
Traditional farming and livestock raising have shaped how people live and work in these valleys for centuries. Small villages here maintain ways of life that are closely tied to the mountain landscape around them.
You can reach the reserve from León city via the AP-66 motorway in less than one hour of driving. Well-marked hiking trails throughout the area allow visitors to explore and observe nature at different difficulty levels.
This area marks the southern boundary where certain Cantabrian Mountain species reach their limit, and it is home to the Quercus orocantabrica oak, a tree species first scientifically identified in 2002. This rare oak grows only in this high mountain region, making it especially valuable for botanical research and conservation.
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