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Very characteristic of the Picos de Europa is the Karst landscape.
This is produced by the action of slightly acidic rain water
eroding the limestone and forming an underground drainage
system. Above the 1,600-meter line there is virtually no surface
water just a dramatic lunar type landscape, with vast slabs
of limestone and a sub alpine flora. This "underground drainage
system" also gives rise to a huge network of underground caves.
A Potholers paradise with depths of over 1,400 meters having
been reached!
Beneath the 1,600m line there is a much more friendly landscape
where delightful mountain vegetation predominates with mixtures
of beech woods, limestone outcrops and idyllic mountain pastures.
A special type of traditional farming gradually moves the
cattle in spring, from the lower valley settlements, (where
they are over wintered), further and further upwards, following
the melting snowline, to these high mountain pastures for
grazing in the summer.
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The Picos de Europa is clearly defined and divided into
three independent massifs known as The Western Massif (El
Cornión), The Central Massif (Los Urrieles), and The Eastern
Massif (Andara). These are separated from one another and
the surrounding mountains by precipitous gorges carved out
over thousands of years by the South-North courses of the
salmon rivers Sella, Cares, Duje and Deva. Due to its unique
outstanding scenery, the Western massif was declared Spain's
first national park in 1918. In 1995 the park was extended
to include the greater part of the three massifs.
The Western Massif with its Peña Santa de Castilla summit
at 2,596m, is the largest and most varied of the three massifs,
and makes for particularly good and varied walking. In this
massif are the very beautiful lakes of Enol and Ercina,
and close to them is the "Buferra" the national park information
centre. This makes an excellent, starting point to explore
this massif. From here it is possible to start various excursions
such as to Vega Ario situated high above the Carres gorge
and with impressive views of the Central Massif. Another
is to the Ordiales viewpoint (where the founder of the park
is buried) perched 1000 meters above the beautiful Angon
valley and with spectacular views over Ponga. A less energetic
walk but equally as rewarding is around the two lakes by
way of the Vega Bricial.
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