Parque Regional del Sureste, Nature park in Community of Madrid, Spain
Parque Regional del Sureste is a nature park in the Community of Madrid, running along the Jarama River through several municipalities in the southeastern part of the region. It brings together gypsum cliffs, wetlands, river banks, and flat open plains within the same protected area.
The regional government designated this area as protected in 1994, at a time when the expansion of Madrid toward the south was putting increasing pressure on the river valley. In the decades before, the surrounding land had already been changed by quarrying and industrial activity, which made the case for protection more urgent.
The park sits on land that was heavily farmed for decades, and that past is still visible today in the form of orchards, irrigation channels, and vineyards mixed into the natural areas. Visitors walking through the southern sections can clearly see how agricultural life and open nature continue to share the same ground.
The park covers a wide area with several entry points spread across different towns, so it helps to decide in advance which part you want to visit. Footwear with a solid sole is a good idea, as some paths near the river banks and gypsum formations can be sandy or uneven.
Many of the lakes and ponds that now shelter birds and amphibians were not always there: they are former gravel pits that filled with water after quarrying stopped. These old extraction sites have become some of the most active wildlife zones in the park.
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