It was the first protected area of our country. With more than 700 miles of stunning landscape, breathtaking, into the northern regions of Portugal.
The Peneda-Geres National Park was established on May 8th, 1971, a statute that was intended to protect the fauna and flora of this mountain set that spans thru thousands of hectares and is shared with neighboring Spain. One reason for a visit is the orographic beauty that can be sighted through the many walking trails suggested by the park authorities. There is the famous Roman trail, which crosses part of this protected area and where is possible in areas designated for that purpose, to stop and do family picnics.
It is one of the greatest natural attractions of our country, not only for ecological diversity, but also for protected wildlife that houses the roughly 70,290 hectares of land. In addition to the famous and infamous Iberian wolves and deer, their favorite prey, can be spotted badgers, otters, mink and birds of large prey. If you are thinking that you can see the famous Iberian lynx, think again! You have a better chance winning the lottery than seeing in the bush this elusive and almost extinct animal. The tree species are also natural beauty to admire in this park. On the slopes of the valleys warm and sheltered, we can admire oaks, arbutus and Azereros, just to name a few.
This mountainous region, due to the characteristics of its rugged terrain and very sudden changes in altitude, is the intertwining of various types of weather, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and continental. Imagine the four seasons in one place. Not to be missed are the beautiful waterfalls that are the delight of visitors, but be careful with the water temperature, this is a factor to consider. It is very cool even in midsummer. It's worth the effort, you can even see fish at the bottom of small lakes, and such is the clarity of the water.
