Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park

Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park (Parque nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido) is an IUCN Category II National Park situated in the Pyrenees.There has been a National Park in the Ordesa Valley since 1918. Its protected area was enlarged in 1982 to cover the whole region amounting to 156.08 km².

Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Ordesa Valley
LocationPyrenees of Huesca, Spain
Nearest cityJaca
Coordinates42°40′18″N 0°3′20″E
Area156.08 km²
Established1918
Governing bodySpanish Ministry of Environment.

It has been included since 1997 by UNESCO in the Biosphere Reserve of Ordesa-Viñamala. In the same year it was included in the cross-border Pyrénées - Mont Perdu World Heritage Site.[1]


Flora

At elevations up to 1,500-1,700 meters, there are extensive forests of beeches (Fagus sylvatica), Abies alba, pines (Pinus sylvestris), oaks (Quercus subpyrenaica), and a lesser extent of birches (Betula pendula), ashes (Fraxinus excelsior), willows (Salix angustifolia). At higher elevations up to 2,000 m, the mountain pine (Pinus uncinata) dominates. Up to 1,800 m, bushes of boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) are found. In the high meadows from 1,700 to 3,000 meters, there are numerous endemisms including Borderea pyrenaica, Campanula cochleariifolia, Ramonda myconi, Silene borderei, Androsace cylindrica, Pinguicula longifolia, Petrocoptis crassifolia, etc. The Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), is one of the symbols of the National Park.

Fauna

The most important species of the Park was the bucardo or Pyrenean ibex which unfortunately went extinct in January 2000 in spite of preservation efforts. The Pyrenean chamois is a type of goat antelope. There are other species such as the alpine marmot, boar and the Pyrenean desman or water-mole (Galemys pyrenaicus), and great birds like the golden eagle, the bearded vulture, the griffon vulture, hawks, and the royal owl.

Protected status

Many illustrious persons have been fond of the places in this region and have extolled their virtues. Luciano Briet, Soler i Santaló and Lucas Mallada helped promote the reputation of the region and obtain protected status for it.

An area of 21 square kilometres containing the Ordesa Valley was declared a National Park on 16 August 1918 by a Royal Decree. On 13 July 1982, it was enlarged to its current 156.08 km2 and its official name was changed to Parque nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido.

  • Cirque de Soaso, with Cilindro de Marboré, Monte Perdido and Soum de Ramond (left to right)
  • North face of La Brèche de Roland
  • Northwest face of Cirque of Soaso
  • Cirque de Cotatuero
  • Arazas river fall, Ordesa valley
  • Entrance to the Ordesa Valley, Arazas river
  • Cirque of Soaso and Horse Tail (Cola del Caballo)
  • Entrance to Ordesa Valley from Torla
  • Punta Tobacor (2,779 m)
  • Path inside the park, Ordesa valley

Bibliography
  • BENITO ALONSO, José Luis (2006). Vegetación del Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido (Sobrarbe, Pirineo central aragonés). 421 pp + Mapa de vegetación 1:40.000. Zaragoza: Serie Investigación, nº 50. Consejo de Protección de la Naturaleza de Aragón. Gobierno de Aragón. ISBN 84-89862-54-0.
  • BENITO ALONSO, José Luis (2006). Catálogo florístico del Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido (Sobrarbe, Pirineo central aragonés). Lérida: Colección Pius Font i Quer, n.º 4. 391 pp. Institut d'Estudis Ilerdencs. Diputación de Lérida. ISBN 84-89943-88-5.
  • BENITO ALONSO, José Luis (2014). Wild Flowers of Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Spanish Pyrenees). Jaca (Huesca): Colección Essential Guides of Flora, nº 1. 96 color pages. Jolube Consultor Botánico y Editor. ISBN 978-84-941996-5-3.

References
  1. "Pyrenees-Mont Perdu". United Nations Environment Program - World Conservation Monitoring Centre. January 2000. Archived from the original on 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
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