MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN MY

COUNTRY

DOÑANA

LOCATION

Doñana National Park is a

natural reserve in

Andalusia, Southern Spain,

in the provinces of Huelva

and Seville. It covers 543

km2 of which 135 km2 are

a protected area.

FLORA

There are many species of

flora in the park: trees,

including pines, flowers

such as roses, and shrubs.

FAUNA

The Iberian lynx, whose habitat

is restricted to the Iberian

Peninsula, is the most

endangered of the big cats.

Only there are 50 lynx in

Doñana.

DEERS

The deer is a animal that

have a flexible body with

long and strong legs. It an

excellent swimmer. The

deer usually live in

mountains or forest. It’s a

typical species in Doñana.

CLIMATEDoñana Park has a mild,

typically Mediterranean

climate, characterized by

dry summers and

relatively wet winters

resulting from variations in

the polar front and the

subtropical ridge of high

pressure.

DUNES

Dune is a hill of sand built by

either wind or water flow.

Dunes occur in different forms

and sizes, formed by

interaction with the flow of air

or water.

OPINION

It’s a national park of Spain

and it’s very well preserved.

There a lot of kinds of birds

and all types of animals.

By Patricia Bravezo Sánchez and Ángela Fernández Enrique

Cabo de Gata

◦ Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural

Park is in the South-Eastern

corner of Spain. It is Andalucia's

largest coastal protected area,

a wild and isolated landscape

with some of Europe's most

original geological features. It is

the only region in Europe with a

Warm Desert climate.

Geology, geography, climate and vegetation

◦ Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park is

characterised by volcanic rock

formations - lava flows, volcanic

domes, volcanic calderas. The park

joined UNESCO's Global Geoparks

Network in 2006, and is also a

member of the European Geoparks

Network.

Towns

There are some small towns in the Cabo de Gata area:

◦ Agua Amarga

◦ Cabo de Gata

◦ Carboneras

◦ Las Negras

◦ Los Albaricoques

◦ Níjar

◦ Rodalquilar

◦ San José

Various other

Flora◦ There are over 1,000 plants recorded in the reserve, some of which are

endemic to the Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata and some of which

have become symbols of the natural park

European fan palm Agave (Pita) Americana Dragoncillo del

Cabo

Fauna◦ There are 1,100 species of fauna that

have been recorded within the park,

the majority of those are birds. The

European Union has designated a

Special Protection Area for bird-life. The

salt flats provide an important habitat

for both the resident birds and the

thousands of migrating birds that stop

on their journey between Europe and

Africa.

Human impact on the park◦ In 2003 a hotel project was started at Playa del Algarrobico between

Carboneras and Mojacar, just inside the park. Work on the project was halted, but demolition, which is opposed by 14 villages , has yet to be carried out. Several reputable sources claim with good evidence that this project is an illegal development although it seems that more recently demolition plans are moving closer

By : Manu Martin Fuentes and Maria Benavides Milan

This is a place where I usually go hiking.

Hiking in this place is very hard but I don’t mind because the views are incredible.

This is one of the places through which you have to walk.

These are the typical animals in the Estrechura of Guainos.

There aren’t a lot of plants, but there are some shrubbery and little plants.

The climate is very hot, people usually go in summer

We think that it is a good place to visit, because it is very funny, enjoyable and it has a good landscape.

◦I recommend you this place. If you like nature, you will love it!

CASTALA(SPAIN)

By Denisa Serban

◦ My favourite place is a natural park called Castala.

Where is it?

◦ It is located in the South East of Spain, not far from my home town.

Types of plants◦ There you can find different types of roses, cactuses, conifers. In autumn you are not

allowed to enter the park because there is danger to burn the leaves which fall on the

ground.

Types of animals◦ There are a lot of wild animals : squirrels , mice , birds , eagles and mountain goats.

My favourite animal in the park◦ My favourite animal in the park is the squirrel. I really enjoy going to the park and feeding

them. They are very funny and friendly.

My favourite plant◦ My favourite plant is the cactus. Cactuses are very common in my area, but you must be

careful, because they have many sharp thorns!

Activities◦ People go to Castala to have a nice day out. You can go there to have a picnic or enjoy

the views while doing some hiking.

Why do I like the park?◦ I like it because I can go there with my family and have fun. Also I can enjoy the views that

mother nature offers and I’m very happy because people are still taking care of those

wonderful places.

The best time to visit◦ You can visit the park at any season. But, in my opinion, the best time to visit is in spring,

when all the flowers are in bloom.

ADRA'S LAGOONS, ALMERÍA

BY INES CASTILLO AND ANDREA SERBAN

What’s a lagoon?

◦ They are small lakes which are near the beach and they are made of salt

water.

◦ These lagoons consist of two lakes, one bigger than the other.

History

◦ The lagoons have been there for ages. In the past, farmers used to build

greenhouses around the lagoons, so with time they became smaller in

size. Luckily, ecologists made the government create some laws to

preserve the lagoons and the surrounding areas.

Where is it?◦ Adra’s lagoons are located in the southwest coast of the Almería

province, inside the municipality of Adra, between Puente del Río and

Balanegra’s beach.

What type of fauna is there?

The most important bird in this place is the malvasía (Oxyura

leucocephala). Other animals are the somormujo lavanco (Podiceps

cristatus), the avetorillo (Ixobrichus minutus), the common porrón (Aythia

ferina) the colorado duck (Netta rufina), turtles and hedgehogs.

The fartet is a kind of fish that only lives in

these lagoons. They eat larvas of insects,

crustaceans and worms.

What type of plants are there?◦ Some of the plants which live in the lagoons are the reed (Juncus

maritimus, Juncus acutus), the carrizo (Phragmites australis), the common

cane (Arundo donax), the bulrush (Typha angustifolia), the masiega

(Cladium mariscus) and the coniza bonariensis.

Surroundings◦ Close to Albufera de Adra is the town of the same name. It has a busy

fishing harbour and there are boat trips available to nearby coastal areas.

Map of the Lagoons

Why do we like it?

◦ We like this place because when I was a child I used to go with my parents to that nice

place to see the ducks. Also, because it’s a place very near my city so I can also go

there and relax by looking at the animals and the plants.