Montaña de Covadonga National Park was established in Asturias in 1918, the first national park in Spain. The (now larger) park covers three major massifs – Western, Central and Eastern which are all part of the Cordillera Cantabria range. The dramatic Cares river canyon, which is 1,500m deep, divides the western and central parts.

The protected area encompasses these spectacular limestone mountains which are approximately 40 km in length (E-W) and 20 Km wide (N-S). They are situated just 20km inland from the Atlantic coast in northern Spain. This gives them a mixture of both Mediterranean and Temperate climatic influences. Altitudes range from 75m to 2,646m with 200 points over 2,000 metres, all given greater relief by the depth and steepness of the gorges and ravines cut by the rivers and tributaries. The highest peaks are Torre de Cerredo at 2,646m, Naranjo de Bulnes at 2,519 m and Pico Tesorero at 2,570 m. The latter is where the borders of the three provinces meet.

Important habitats occur at different heights and include exposed alpine mountain meadows, rocky outcrops, montane grasslands, needle-leaf and deciduous natural forests, marshes, alpine lakes and peat bogs. Each in turn is home to different animal and plant life. The western massif (El Cornión) is the most extensive and contains forests, moors and the lakes of Covadonga. The Central massif (Los Urrieles) has the highest peaks and the Eastern area (Andara), the smaller part still contains impressive crags and meadows.

The limestone terrain has typical jagged peaks and cliffs and holds some of the deepest caves in Spain. In the Central Massif there are 4 deep chasms, La Torca del Cerro is the deepest in Spain at 1589 m and the fourth deepest in the World. The waters that collect here emerge at the “manantial del Farfao de la Viña” and flow on into the river Cares. Some caves are used for curing cheeses in the traditional style. Another tradition still upheld is shepherds who move their flocks through the mountain pastures, climbing higher through spring and summer as the snow melts.

The Fuente Dé cable car offers a scenic ascent to the Central massif alighting at a height of 1,847m. This is an easier way of viewing the alpine flowers, butterflies and birds as well as the spectacular views. In traditional summer holiday times there are long queues.

Flora:

There are mixed Atlantic forests of Oak (Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. pyrenaica), Hazel, Maple, Lime, Ash, Sweet chestnut, Birch, Walnut, Holly and Yew trees. Those of highest altitude are predominantly Beech trees. A Mediterranean type forest grows in the south eastern part of the range and holds Cork and Holm oaks along with Prickly juniper, Turpentine tree, Mediterranean buckthorn, Rockrose (Cistus psilosepalus), Strawberry-tree and Phillyrea latifolia.

Wild flower enthusiasts are drawn by the amazing range of specialist plants. Late spring to early summer boast the highlights of the year. Tall yellow gentian, Narcissi, Asphodel blue Gentian, Orchid, Pasque flower, Violet, Spotted Rock-rose, Foxglove, Fritillary, Alpine Rock-cress, Lily of the valley, Rock Cinquefoil, Broom, Dianthus, Wall Germander, Spiny restharrow, Greater Yellow-rattle, Hellebore, Pyrenean Lily, Round-headed Leek, Anemone and Monkshood are just a few that flourish here.

Some of them which originate from these mountains are Narcissus leonensis, the dwarf Narcissus asturiensis, Anemone pavoniana, Potentilla nivalis subsp. asturica, Saxifraga felineri, Aquilegia pyrenaica subsp. Discolor and Toadflax Linaria faucicola,

Endemic to northern Spain are Crucifers-Draba dedeana and Draba cantabriae, Houseleek-Sempervivum vicentei subsp. cantabricum, Bellflowers-Campanula arvatica and Campanula cantabrica.Found both here and in the Pyrenees are Iris latifolia and Gentiana angustifolia.

Over 40 orchid species occur here, among the wide array are Violet limodore (Limodorum abortivum), Loose-flowered orchid (Orchis laxiflora), Lizard orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum), Man orchid (Aceras anthropophorum), Giant orchid (Barlia robertiana) and Heart-flowered serapias (Serapias cordigera).

Fauna:

Two of the most well known mammals of the area are also the most difficult to see, there are small numbers of Wolf (Canis lupus signatus) and Cantabrian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos), both are protected species. Easier to see and quite numerous at high altitudes are the Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva).

Click here to read more about the Cantabrian Brown Bear