Today, through the sharing of records made in random places in Gerês and beyond, because today i also share some records made in Xurês, the mountain range that extends beyond the border on the Spanish side, i will try to describe a little of the National Park Peneda-Gerês, this was the first protected area to be created in Portugal with the aim of enhancing and preserving natural resources as well as human activities for scientific, tourist and educational purposes through the conservation of soils, waters, flora and fauna.
This natural park has a natural and cultural heritage of great importance, being one of the last strongholds of Portugal where it is possible to find ecosystems in their natural state with little or no human influence.
When we venture through the dense vegetation, following some of the marked trails, even if marked, there is a great probability of getting lost or even walking around without leaving the same place.
The terrain is quite uneven and it is necessary to have a good physical preparation to venture on the paths that are not normally traveled by tourists, as they usually move around by car, like to park on the side of the road and stay in easily accessible places, and even for those, there is no lack of choice and absolutely magnificent places with regard to lagoons or large places to spend beautiful relaxed moments.
As a whole, the National Park extends from the Castro Laboreiro plateau to the Mourela plateau, encompassing the Peneda, Soajo, Amarela and Gerês mountains, through an immense amphitheater sculpted by geologies, winds and waters.
In the highest peaks, the effects of the last glaciation are visible, leaving behind some glacial circuses, morays, small lagoons and U-shaped valleys.
Lately, fires have seriously compromised the variety and richness of the vegetation cover influenced and provided by the geographical, Atlantic, Mediterranean and continental position, as well as due to the orientation and variations in altitude.
Every year the fires end up gaining ground on some hectares full of oak and pine forests, forests full of birch and birch and even fields for cultivation and pastures.
As far as fauna is concerned, it is in this territory of incomparable landscape that the wolf Canis Lupus wanders, where we can see the Royal Eagle Aquila chrysaetos taking flight in the blue skies, among several micro-mammals such as the water mole Galemys pyrenaicus, a enormous diversity of reptiles and amphibians and an ichthyological fauna.
For those who like breathtaking landscapes and love direct contact with nature in its purest state, Parque da Peneda-Gerês is without a doubt a place to visit.
I had already mentioned it, but I never get tired of mentioning that this will be the first place to visit as soon as the siege rises and it is possible to travel further, always maintaining the required social distance and taking the necessary precautions, but in fact what better place than this to feel true freedom without jeopardizing any contagion or spread of viruses.
I tried not to talk about the virus, believe me, i tried, but given the circumstances it is practically impossible not to mention this condition and try to understand how this situation will affect the economic model as we knew it, but also the psychological condition of the human being.
But that would be a topic for a post other than this one.
That´s all for today :)
See you soon
Thank you for watching :)
