Parque natural de Ponga, Nature reserve in Cantabrian Mountains, Spain
Parque natural de Ponga is a protected mountain area in northern Spain that contains limestone cliffs, dense beech forests, and river gorges carved into the landscape. The terrain varies from high peaks to deep valleys, creating different zones for wildlife and plant life.
The area gained formal protection as a nature reserve in 2003 after decades of local efforts to safeguard the mountains and forests. In 2018 it received recognition as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, bringing international attention to its ecological value.
In the villages of Beleño, Abiegos, and Taranes, you can see shepherds moving their livestock between higher and lower pastures as their families have done for centuries. This practice shapes how the landscape looks across the seasons and how people work the land today.
The visitor center at San Juan de Beleño provides maps and exhibits explaining local wildlife and how the park ecosystems work. Seven marked hiking routes of varying difficulty lead through different parts of the area, so you can choose based on your fitness level.
The park contains roughly 195 mountain peaks spread across its landscape, creating a very rugged and broken terrain. A substantial portion of the ground is covered in beech trees, which display warm colors especially during autumn months.
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