Serra da Estrela, Mountain range and protected area in Central Portugal
Serra da Estrela is a mountain range and protected area in Central Portugal that stretches across several municipalities and includes granite rock faces, old glacial valleys, and clear mountain lakes. The terrain rises from gentle hills to the highest peaks on the Portuguese mainland and shows different vegetation zones from valley floors to open highland plateaus.
The region received protection in 1976 as the first natural park in Portugal and developed into a reference area for nature conservation in the country. Later, the area joined the European Natura 2000 network and reinforced cross-border cooperation for preserving biodiversity.
Local shepherds maintain traditional practices, guiding sheep flocks through mountain pastures while producing the region's characteristic Serra da Estrela cheese.
The protected area has marked hiking trails that connect different elevation levels, with entry points in several towns. Visitors should prepare for changing weather conditions, as temperature and wind can shift quickly with altitude.
The oldest rocks in the mountain range formed about 650 million years ago through metamorphic processes in the Earth's crust and now create striking rock formations. These geological structures belong to the oldest rock layers on the Iberian Peninsula and are visible at the highest peaks.
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