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DOŅANA NATIONAL PARK |
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The two Parks have nearly 40,000 hectares of pristine marshes, more than 5,000 hectares of rivers, ponds, channels and lagoons, 7,000 hectares of coast and sand dunes, 43,000 hectares of coniferous forests and 24,000 hectares of shrublands. The most eye-catching feature of the Doņana surface area of 50,720 ha is the variety of its scenery which is full of contrasts. We can distinguish a humid Doņana which consists of the salt marshes and lagoons, and a dry Doņana with a series of environments, the last of which are the dunes bordering on the Atlantic. The most outstanding feature of the salt marshes is their incredible flatness. They are dry in the summer and full of water the rest of the year, but the scenery there is constantly changing. The depressions flooded with water are called "caņos", the salt marsh lagoons are known as "lucios", while the low elevations of the land are "paciles" and "vetas". These areas are vitals as an annual stop-over point for over 6 million migratory birds: spoonbill, greater flamingo, glossy ibis, avocet or the greylag goose are some of these species. Until 60,000 individuals from the last species feed and winter in this area, coming from the rest of Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Sweeden, Denmark, etc.). Come springtime, dozens of species nest in the marshes and turn the swamps into a real beehive buzzing with life. A complementary part of humid Doņana are the lagoons found all over the Park, some along the coast and others further inland. They are regularly visited by fallow and red deer as well as wild boar apart from countless birds. In the dry area of Doņana, especially noteworthy, are a series of cork oaks which divide the marshes from the brushland of Doņana. They are the famous "Doņana aviaries" which give shelter and nesting space to many bird colonies. Grey herons, egrets, squacco herons, spoonbills and storks participate in a colourful concert. The Doņana brush country is of the Mediterranean type and consists mainly of halimium atriplicifolium of the rockrose family. But there are other plants, too, among them narrow-leaved phillyrea, heath, rosemary, french lavender and thyme, with a scattering of cork oak everywhere. This one of the few places in Europe where the iberian lynx and egyptian mongoose are found, species which constitute the greatest wildlife treasure of the area. The skies are the realm of the imperial eagle, which is gravely at risk. In the brushland of Doņana, rabbit is very common and pursued by lynx, mongoose and imperial eagle. It is also the shelter and feeding ground of red and fallow deer, wild boar, western polecat, badger and weasel.
Scattered around the brush country of Doņana, a number of stone pine stands can be
observed. The pine forests grow the further south one travels and the brushwood grows taller. In these
trees, we find wood pigeon, turtle dove, the eyecatching azure-winged
magpie, blackbirds and thrushes. Year after year in the spring hobby and
short-toed eagle return to nest. And under the trees, red deer and wild boar are regular
visitors. Finally, another spectacular features of the Doņana scenery are the dunes, which consist of extremely fine, white silica. The winds blowing from the sea cause them to move inland and constantly change their profile. When they reach a stand of pine trees, they surround it and form the so-called corrales, ie, pine trees encircled by dunes. Little by little, they strangle the trees and finally bury them. The National Park has been declared wetland of international importance having extraordinary ecological value by the Ramsar Convention, Biosphere Reserve (1980) and World Heritage Site (1994) by UNESCO. In addition to the conservation status given by the existence of the National and Nature Park, Doņana is a Natura 2000 site, obtained the European Diploma for Protected Areas (Council of Europe) and it is surrounded by other Natural Areas and Reserves, especially in the coastal wetlands. |
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How to reach the Park |
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The road to Doņana Palace on lands of the Biological Reserve in the heart of the Park begins in
Seville, where the nearest airport is. It is the dual carriageway A-92
(Seville-Huelva), which leads to La Palma del Condado, 45 km from the Andalusian capital. From
there, 19 km after passing through Bollulos del Condado, one comes to
Almonte. A straight road lined with pine trees and eucalyptus leads to El Rocío, where one reception centre for visitors
lies.
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Advice of interest to visitors |
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Doņana is one of the most important wetlands in Europe and is included in the List of Wetlands of International
Importance. It is also one of the biggest natural region under protection in the Peninsula Ibérica where life can be felt at every
step. It lies in the mouth of the Guadalquivir river, in the Province of Huelva. The National Park currently covers 50,720 hectares andf is characterised by three main types of
ecosystems: mobile dunes, Mediterranean bushland and marshland. In its northern
part, it borders with the Doņana Nature Park (54,250 hectares), established in 1989 and belonging to the Andalusian Regional
Government. It includes bushland with seasonal wetlands, dry and irrigation cultivated
fields, and wetlands transformed into rice fields.
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Photographing nature is an important pastime, but may be harmful to animals unless they are approached with great
care, especially in the breeding season.
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