Urkiola Natural Park
| Urkiola Natural Park | |
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IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
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Urkiola, Untzillaitz, aitz Txiki and Alluitz.
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| Location | Álava, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain |
| Nearest city | Abadiño |
| Coordinates | 43°06′58″N 2°40′08″W / 43.116°N 2.669°WCoordinates: 43°06′58″N 2°40′08″W / 43.116°N 2.669°W |
| Area | 5,958 hectares (14,720 acres) |
| Established | 1989 |
| Governing body | Regional Council of Bizkaia |
| http://www.urkiola.net/Ingles/ | |
Urkiola Natural Park is a protected area located in the southeastern corner of Biscay and Álava in the northern Basque Country, Spain. It is a protected area of 5,958 hectares (14,720 acres).
It was declared a Natural Park on 29 December 1989.
The Park's highest mountain summit is Amboto at 1,337 metres (4,386 ft). This mountain has a strong mythological significance. Is the main dwelling of Mari, a figure of Basque mythology. Urkiola Natural Park and Gorbea Natural Park form an important environmental unit. Landscape features and easy access have been fundamental to leisure and sports use.
Urkiola Natural Park covers an area of 5,958 hectares (14,720 acres) and has a perimeter of 83.8 kilometres (52.1 mi). The Natural Park is located in eight municipalities, seven in Biscay and one in Álava.
The landscape of Urkiola Park consists of limestone masses. These rocks have steep slopes, with gullies and cliffs. Karst plains support a diverse and rugged landscape consisting of different proportions of shrubs, grasses, rocks, beech and pine forests.
Mining activity is important in the park and its vicinity. While mineral extraction has been a traditional activity within the land that makes up the Urkiola Natural Park, the mines were closed long ago. LImestone quarries, opencast mines that have a great impact on the landscape, have remained active since the formation of Urkiola Natural Park.
The abundance of limestone and rainfall in the area has led to a very rich karstic relief, with many caves with prehistoric remains of human occupation, sinkholes and fissures.
The climate is warm oceanic, with high rainfall with a clear decrease in the summer. Most of the park is about 600 metres (2,000 ft) above sea level. The annual rainfall is around 1,500 millimetres (59 in). The temperature is mild, with a marine influence, and a range between 7 °C (45 °F) mean minimum and maximum average 15 °C (59 °F), with an annual average of 11 °C (52 °F).
The vegetation of Urkiola Natural Park presents typical features of the Cantabrian-Atlantic provinces of the Euro-Siberian region, with features of the Mediterranean region. The vegetation is:
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Wikipedia