peneda gerês national park - i

PENEDA-GERÊS NATIONAL

PARK (PNPG)

Natural Treasures of Europe Direção Regional de Educação do Norte

Escola Secundária c/ 3.º Ciclo D. Maria II

Código 401341

Location Natural Treasures of Europe

Northewest of Portugal.

Area – around 70000 hectares.

It includes Peneda, Soajo, Amarela, and Gerês Mountains.

Location Natural Treasures of Europe

Created in 1971.

It is the only protected area in Portugal with the statute of National Park.

It continues into the Spanish National Park and, together, they form the International Gerês/Xurés Park.

Geology Natural Treasures of Europe

Granite is the dominant rock.

Resulting from erosion, curiously shaped outcroppings can be observed.


Calcedonia Fracture – Entering into the base of the rocky outcropping, it is possible to climb to its top through an interior fracture.

Calcedonia knoll (999m)

Entrance of the fracture


Brooks and rivers meandering through the park, contributing to its abundant flora and fauna.

Flora Natural Treasures of Europe

The diversity of conditions existing in the PGNP, namely the surface, altitude and climate (Atlantic, Mediterranean and Continental), make life possible for Mediterranean, subtropical, Euro-Siberian and alpine species.

The lower areas (to 900 m), influenced by the Atlantic climate, are dominated by the English oak (quercus robur).


Next to the English oak, holly, the strawberry tree, the laurel cherry, and the butcher’s broom can also be seen.

laurel cherry (Prunus lusitanica)

strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)

butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus)

holly (Ilex aquifolium)


Above 1400 m, the soil is mostly covered with scrub brush: heather, gorse, broom, and furze, associated with juniper, which is an Alpine species

juniper (Juniperus communis)

gorse (Chamaespartium

tridendantum)

broom (Cytisus sp.)

furze (Ulex sp.) heather

(Erica sp.)

bushes


In the more inclined and warmer areas, with climate of Mediterranean influence, there are cork oak groves.

cork oak (Quercus suber)

Flora – English oak

Natural Treasures of Europe

The English oak (Quercus robur) is the most abundant aboriginal tree in the PNPG.

It supports an immense biodiversity:

• fungi, lichens, moss, and English ivy;

• insects that live in and feed from oak trees;

• wasps that sting them originating the gallnuts;

• squirrels and jays that survive on their acorns;

• birds that nest on their branches;

• other species feed on the insects existing on oak trees or from the dead leaves on the soil.

Fauna Natural Treasures of Europe

The diversity and abundance of vegetal species support an equally diverse and abundant fauna.

Besides an enormous number of invertebrate species, around 235 vertebrate ones inhabit the PNPG.

Among the mammal species that roam these mountains, the Gerês goat stands out (Capra pyrenaica )…

Gerês goat


sturdy pony Iberian wolf

deer

red squirrel

…the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus ), the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus),the sturdy pony (Equus caballus) , the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), the wild boar (Sus scrofa castillianus) and the otter (Lutra lutra).


As far as birds, besides the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetus), the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), the European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), and the red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), can still be seen.

red-billed chough

Eurasian eagle-owl

e. honey buzzard golden eagle


Regarding reptiles and amphibians, the seoanei’s viper (Vipera seoanei), the snud-nosed viper (Vipera latasti), the Iberian emerald lizard (Lacerta schereiberi), the Iberian frog (Rana iberica), the water snake (Natrix natrix) and the gold-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica), are also here.

Iberian emerald lizard

seoanei’s viper snud-nosed viper

Iberian frog

Mushrooms Natural Treasures of Europe

High humidity and vegetal diversity, allow a big quantity and diversity of mushrooms.

Occupation by men Natural Treasures of Europe

Megalithic tombs indicate the presence of prehistoric societies .

The Megalithic Nucleus of Mezio includes ten mounds, some of which dating back 5000 years.

Mounds – artificial hills of earth and small stones that cover up prehistoric funeral monuments – dolmens.

dolmen mound


Roman Geira - a Roman road (1st C. a.d.) that connected Bracara Augusta (Braga) to Asturica Augusta (Astorga, Spain).

The road was marked with a milestone every 1418 metres.

Occupation by men

Several groups of milestones can be seen along the Roman Geira.

milestone


Santa Maria de Pitões das Júnias Monastery

12th C.

Occupation by men

Castro Laboreiro Castle

It was probably built in the 11th C. and rebuilt in the 14th.


Lindoso Castle

It was probably built in the 13th C. and rebuilt in the 17th C.

Occupation by men

Soajo Granaries

24 granaries built on a granite outcropping, which is used as a communitarian threshing floor.

The oldest dates back to 1782.


In the 20th Century several hydroelectric dams were built.

Occupation by men

The construction of Vilarinho das Furnas dam submerged a whole communitarian village with the same name.

Caniçada dam

Trails Natural Treasures of Europe

In the PNPG there are several pedestrian trails, which are well marked and identified.

Right way Wrong way

Turn left Turn right Mariola – used to signal paths and to show strollers and shepherds the right way.


Trail for 22nd

Lunch on 22nd

Trail for 23rd


Trail for the 22nd – Arado Falls and Albergaria woods

Lunch on the 22nd – Vila do Gerês

Sleeping on the 22nd – Vilarinho das Furnas Youth Hostel

Trail for the 23rd – Águia do Sarilhão

Vilarinho das Furnas Ethnographic museum


It was built in 1972 with stones brought from the submerged village of Vilarinho das Furnas.

It displays a permanent exhibition of the typical tools and instruments that show the life and culture of Vilarinho das Furnas.

Águia do Sarilhão trail Natural Treasures of Europe

Trail of particular interest for historical and cultural aspects.

Trail length - 9 Km.

Águia do Sarilhão Trail

Águia do Sarilhão Trail Natural Treasures of Europe

It starts at the Ethnographic Museum, continues through a rural village and then it enters the woods.

Alongside the trail there are scrub brush areas as well as willow trees, strawberry trees and English oak, closer to the river banks.

English oaks, birches, willows, strawberry trees and butcher's brooms are dominant in this part of the Park.

The Sarilhão crag, where the golden eagle used to nest, can be observed from this trail.


The trail begins at a steep path leading to the Roman Geira .


At Geira we can see a group of milestones.

The trail continues along the left bank of the Vilarinho das Furnas dam.


Arriving at the village Campo do Gerês, we will observe several elements of the traditional architecture.

At the end of the trail we will cross the Eixões Medieval Bridge, on the Rodas brook.


This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors.

The Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein.

Based on publications by the Peneda-Gerês National Park

Presented by the pupils of classes 10th C e 11thC in the opening session of the mobility to Braga.

Coordinating teachers: Margarida Teixeira and Arminda Loureiro

REPORT Introduction This report was done within the works related to the Comenius Project, NaTurE – Natural Treasures of Europe, which includes eleven European countries. During the 2nd school term and within the objectives of the project, several activities have been done, namely field work and sports and cultural activities. Field trip to the Peneda/Gerês National Park, on February 17th 2012. On February 17th, the Biology and Geology teachers, together with their pupils from classes 10th C, 11th B, 11th C, and 11th E (approximately 100 pupils) and ten more teachers, went on a field trip do the Peneda/Gerês National Park. This Biology and Geology field trip to the Peneda/Gerês National Park was preceded by a theoretical class.




The teacher gave the students a worksheet (see teaching materials) to help them in their investigation, as well as a dichotomous key for the classification of the living beings they would observe. For a more detailed investigation, each class was divided into groups of 5/6 pupils, whose task was the investigation of a particular group of living beings: trees, bushes, scrub, vertebrates, invertebrates, fungi, and lichens. The field trip occurred in two different ecosystems - Arado Fall and Albergaria Wood – and the objective was the characterization and comparison of their biodiversity. In order to cause minimal damage to the ecosystems, it was previously decided to form two big groups, which would alternately visit the two ecosystems. So that they could gather all the possible information, the students were asked to take bags to save the collected samples, a notebook, a camera (one per group), dichotomous keys and the worksheet they would have to fill in.




Several plants, with various sizes, and several types of lichens and fungi were observed; the observation of a variety of vertebrates and invertebrates was not possible. It is relevant to mention that several types of rocks were observed, predominantly granite. The Arado Fall Trail, with beautiful views, mostly granitic and of great geological importance, it is not, however, very rich in biological biodiversity, due to adverse abiotic conditions. On the other hand, the Albergaria Wood is a place of enormous biological importance. A great biological diversity can be observed. The abiotic conditions (high humidity and a milder climate) are the causes for the biodiversity of this ecosystem. Since lichens cannot survive in polluted environments, and due to the abundance of these beings in the two ecosystems studied, we can conclude that they are pollution free. At the end of the field trip, the good moments we spent together (teachers and pupils), in such beautiful scenery, and the physical exercise, made us realise the importance of physical activity for our mental and physical health.




In the next Biology and Geology classroom practice, we wrote a report on the field trip activity, which included the comparison between the two ecosystems, Albergaria wood and Arado Fall, considering the abiotic and biotic aspects and their relationship with the biodiversity of each ecosystem. The report included several items, namely: a theoretical introduction (concerning the characterization of the Peneda/Gerês National Park), objectives, methodology, results, discussion of the results, conclusion, and bibliography. With this field trip we were able to acquire an even greater respect for the Park; we observed all its beauty, learned how to love it and, consequently, felt the need to protect and preserve it. It made us realise, not only the imperative need to preserve all the ecosystems around us, but also the need, through our daily actions, to preserve Nature, which we entirely depend on.




Reception and integration of the European teachers and pupils

The stay in Braga, the overnight stay and the field trip to Gerês were very carefully planned, so that our partners in the Comenius Project, NaTurE – Natural Treasures of Europe, could have the possibility to learn, not only the biodiversity and geology of the Park, but also the possibility to learn some of our historical and cultural heritage. On March 21st, some sports activities – DonaSport- took place, aiming at the integration of the European pupils in our school community. There was a “Peddy-paper” through Braga and several games in the school Gym. Knowing that Sports can create ties among cultures, through these activities, the pupils were able to feel closer and integrated in a shorter period of time, which was the main objective of these activities.




As we wanted to present the Peneda/Gerês National Park to our guests, we produced a PowerPoint with all the collected data, regarding the Park’s location, geology, hydrology, fauna, flora, presence of Man since prehistoric times and, in particular, Albergaria Wood, Arado Fall, and Águia do Sarilhão Trails. The students that presented the PowerPoint on March 21st, worked on it during the week before, under the supervision of the Biology/Geology and English teachers. This PowerPoint helped everyone to get a glimpse and have an idea of the places they would be visiting on the 22nd and 23rd March; on the other hand, we intended to show to our Comenius partners as well as all Portuguese people present, the reasons why the Park has got the status of National Park. Preparing the PowerPoint was a very exhausting task but, at the same time, a very rewarding one, since all people present seemed to have enjoyed watching it.




On March 22nd, together with all our Comenius partners - teachers and students –, we went on a field trip to the Peneda/Gerês National Park, similar to the one we had done before, to study the biodiversity in Albergaria Wood and Arado Fall, which have different abiotic conditions. We spent the night at the Vilarinho das Furnas Youth Hostel. We had lots of fun there, talking with our foreign colleagues, exchanging ideas and making new friends. On March 23rd we visit the Vilarinho das Furnas Ethnographic Museum, where we could see their permanent exhibition, which depicts scenes and peculiar objects that show the culture and way of living of the old, communitarian Vilarinho das Furnas village, submerged after the construction of the Vilarinho das Furnas Dam. After the visit to the museum, we started the 9-kilometer Águia do Sarilhão Trail, which has a particular historical and cultural interest. Alongside this trail, besides watching the biological diversity, we could observe a monumental granitic outcropping, the Sarilhão Crag, where, formerly, the golden eagle used to nest. Farther ahead, we walked on a section of the Roman road (Geira), where some milestones can still be seen, next to the beautiful scenery of the Vilarinho das Furnas Dam. In the village of Campo do Gerês we could admire several elements of the traditional architecture, namely rural dwellings, granaries and a medieval bridge.




Field trip to Peneda/Gerês National Park, on March 22nd and 23rd

Conclusion

The field trip to the Peneda/Gerês National Park was of great interest in the Biology and Geology areas as well as culturally and socially; we certainly have become better human beings, better prepared and motivated to protect Nature. Scientifically, the field trip was very important. However, the most important part of it was the exchange of experiences. Spending time with people of the same age, from different countries is, indeed, very enriching. Not only do we get to know different people but also the society and ways of living in their countries. The contact with the outside world is, at our age, very important, in order for us to become more tolerant individuals. The use of the English language was also very important; sometimes it wasn’t easy but we were always able to communicate. Communication is always possible, as long as we want to, whether we use gestures, words, art, etc. Communication and the capacity to deal with people from other cultures are very important to improve the kind of people we are now and the kind of people we want to be in the future. Therefore, this exchange has made us better citizens, since interacting with people from other cultures broadens our minds, concerning other ways of living, and increases our respect for them. Having all these aspects in mind, this mobility was a success for all of us, partners in this Comenius Project




Based on the reports presented by the following pupils: • André, Bruno, Isac Pinhão, Joana, Sara Almeida e João Ricardo Martins – 10th C Class • Ana Domingues e Joana Marques – 11th C Class Coordinating teachers: Margarida Teixeira and Arminda Loureiro




peneda gerês national park - i

Education

english oak quercus

itsabundant flora

species feed

oak trees wasps

gers mountains

mammal species

thereare cork oak groves

english ivy insects