The Sierra Espuña is a mountain range in the Region of Murcia, Spain. It is part of the Penibaetic System. The Sierra Espuña Regional Park protects 17,804 ha of the mountain range in the municipalities of Alhama de Murcia, Totana and Mula.[1] The highest peak, also known as Espuña, is at 1,583 metres. The summit itself is a military area. It houses the 13th Air Surveillance Squadron (EVA 13) radar station, part of the Spanish Air and Space Force.[2]
By the end of the 19th century, the entire mountain range was in a poor ecological state, with the almost total loss of its tree cover and at risk of desertification. In 1889, the forest engineer Ricardo Codorníu undertook the enormous task of reforesting the entire mountain range. This reforestation task became a model for his time.[3]
In 1931 the area was declared a natural site of national interest, and in 1992 it was protected as a Regional Park.[1] It is also listed as a Special Protection Area for birds and a place of community importance (LIC).
The Ricardo Corníu Visitors and Management Centre takes its name from the forestry engineer who reforested the entire mountain range in the 19th century. It is an old mansion located in the heart of the Sierra. The centre has an information area, a Projection Room and an Exhibition Room.
Huerta Espuñaedit
Next to the Visitor Centre is the area known as Huerta Espuña. It was the centre of operations for the restoration work directed by Ricardo Codorniú, where the first experimental crops were planted to study their viability in this environment. Currently you can see orchards that were used, some of them now in use for projects to recover protected wild flora.
Pozos de nieveedit
Pozo de nieve de Cartagena
In the high parts of the sierra are the Pozos de nieve ("snow wells"), ice houses first built at the end of the 16th century to store snow in winter and distribute it in summer in the form of ice to hospitals, cities and towns in the Kingdom of Murcia. These ice houses were in use until the 1920s.
Collado Bermejo viewpointedit
This viewpoint offers one of the best panoramic views of the entire Sierra, located at an altitude of 1,201 m.
Barrancos de Gebasedit
The Gebas barrancos (ravines) are to the east of the main sierra below the village of Gebas. Formed millions of years ago, as a brine lake under the sea, they have a stark difference to the surrounding landscape. The best view is from the Librilla side of the Barrancos as the elevation gives you a view of the whole of the area.
Fauna and floraedit
Large parts of the Sierra Espuña are covered with pine trees. Oleanders, poplars, elms, birches and willows are found in the riverbeds and ravines.
The diverse fauna of the Sierra includes around 120 species of birds, including eagles, jays, hawks, sparrowhawks, eagle owls and larks. Wild boar and squirrels can also be found here. The Barbary sheep was introduced to the Sierra Espuña in the 1970s.
Climateedit
The climate of the Sierra Espuña differs from the rest of the Murcia region: there is around 200 millimeters more precipitation per year, and the temperature is around five degrees Celsius below the regional average.
Referencesedit
^ ab"Ley 6/1995, de 21 de abril, de modificación de los límites del Parque Regional de Sierra Espuña" (in Spanish). Boletín Oficial del Estado. 1995. from the original on 2020-03-27. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^"Escuadrón de Vigilancia Aérea nº13" (in Spanish). Spanish Air Force. from the original on 2020-04-11. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^"Región de Murcia Digital:Ricardo Codorníu" (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 February 2022.
External linksedit
Spanish Tourist Information: Sierra Espuña Regional Reserve
Murcia Tourist website: Sierra Espuña
Alhuma de Murcia Tourism: Paths of Sierra Espuña
April 10, 2024
sierra, espuña, mountain, range, region, murcia, spain, part, penibaetic, system, regional, park, protects, mountain, range, municipalities, alhama, murcia, totana, mula, highest, peak, also, known, espuña, metres, summit, itself, military, area, houses, 13th,. The Sierra Espuna is a mountain range in the Region of Murcia Spain It is part of the Penibaetic System The Sierra Espuna Regional Park protects 17 804 ha of the mountain range in the municipalities of Alhama de Murcia Totana and Mula 1 The highest peak also known as Espuna is at 1 583 metres The summit itself is a military area It houses the 13th Air Surveillance Squadron EVA 13 radar station part of the Spanish Air and Space Force 2 Sierra EspunaHighest pointElevation1 583 m 5 194 ft Coordinates37 51 20 N 1 30 45 W 37 85556 N 1 51250 W 37 85556 1 51250GeographySierra EspunaSpainLocationBajo GuadalentinRegion of MurciaParent rangePenibaetic System Eastern zoneGeologyMountain typekarsticBy the end of the 19th century the entire mountain range was in a poor ecological state with the almost total loss of its tree cover and at risk of desertification In 1889 the forest engineer Ricardo Codorniu undertook the enormous task of reforesting the entire mountain range This reforestation task became a model for his time 3 In 1931 the area was declared a natural site of national interest and in 1992 it was protected as a Regional Park 1 It is also listed as a Special Protection Area for birds and a place of community importance LIC Contents 1 Sites of interest 1 1 Ricardo Corniu Visitors and Management Centre 1 2 Huerta Espuna 1 3 Pozos de nieve 1 4 Collado Bermejo viewpoint 1 5 Barrancos de Gebas 2 Fauna and flora 3 Climate 4 References 5 External linksSites of interest editRicardo Corniu Visitors and Management Centre edit The Ricardo Corniu Visitors and Management Centre takes its name from the forestry engineer who reforested the entire mountain range in the 19th century It is an old mansion located in the heart of the Sierra The centre has an information area a Projection Room and an Exhibition Room Huerta Espuna edit Next to the Visitor Centre is the area known as Huerta Espuna It was the centre of operations for the restoration work directed by Ricardo Codorniu where the first experimental crops were planted to study their viability in this environment Currently you can see orchards that were used some of them now in use for projects to recover protected wild flora Pozos de nieve edit nbsp Pozo de nieve de CartagenaIn the high parts of the sierra are the Pozos de nieve snow wells ice houses first built at the end of the 16th century to store snow in winter and distribute it in summer in the form of ice to hospitals cities and towns in the Kingdom of Murcia These ice houses were in use until the 1920s Collado Bermejo viewpoint edit This viewpoint offers one of the best panoramic views of the entire Sierra located at an altitude of 1 201 m Barrancos de Gebas edit The Gebas barrancos ravines are to the east of the main sierra below the village of Gebas Formed millions of years ago as a brine lake under the sea they have a stark difference to the surrounding landscape The best view is from the Librilla side of the Barrancos as the elevation gives you a view of the whole of the area Fauna and flora editLarge parts of the Sierra Espuna are covered with pine trees Oleanders poplars elms birches and willows are found in the riverbeds and ravines The diverse fauna of the Sierra includes around 120 species of birds including eagles jays hawks sparrowhawks eagle owls and larks Wild boar and squirrels can also be found here The Barbary sheep was introduced to the Sierra Espuna in the 1970s Climate editThe climate of the Sierra Espuna differs from the rest of the Murcia region there is around 200 millimeters more precipitation per year and the temperature is around five degrees Celsius below the regional average References edit a b Ley 6 1995 de 21 de abril de modificacion de los limites del Parque Regional de Sierra Espuna in Spanish Boletin Oficial del Estado 1995 Archived from the original on 2020 03 27 Retrieved 12 February 2022 Escuadron de Vigilancia Aerea nº13 in Spanish Spanish Air Force Archived from the original on 2020 04 11 Retrieved 12 February 2022 Region de Murcia Digital Ricardo Codorniu in Spanish Retrieved 12 February 2022 External links editSpanish Tourist Information Sierra Espuna Regional Reserve Murcia Tourist website Sierra Espuna Alhuma de Murcia Tourism Paths of Sierra Espuna Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sierra Espuna amp oldid 1197735471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
