Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park

Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park
Parque Natural de Sierra de María-Los Vélez
Map of Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park
Location	Almería, Spain
Nearest city	Vélez-Blanco
Coordinates	37°42′27″N 2°07′55″W / 37.7075°N 2.132°W / 37.7075; -2.132Coordinates: 37°42′27″N 2°07′55″W / 37.7075°N 2.132°W / 37.7075; -2.132
Area	226.7 km2 (87.5 sq mi)
Established	1987

Sierra de Maria-Los Velez Natural Park - Air Photo (West Side)

Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park (Parque Natural de Sierra de María-Los Vélez) is a natural park of Spain. It is situated in Almería province in the municipalities of Chirivel, Maria, Vélez-Blanco, Vélez-Rubio.

It was designated a natural park in 1987 and covers 226.7 km² (87.5 sq mi). The park encompasses pine forests and supports a varied flora, including some species unique to the Sierra.^[1] Its highest peak is the María, a limestone outcrop of 2,045 metres (6,709 ft).^[1]

Fauna[]

There are 100 bird species, including 17 species of birds of prey, and the park was declared a Special Protection Area in 2002. There is a butterfly subspecies of parnassius apollo, which can only be found in this area.

Archaeology[]

The area was inhabited in prehistoric times, and archaeological remains from Paleolithic and Neolithic times have been excavated. Sites include:

• the Neolithic hilltop fort at Cerro de las Canteras, near the river.
• The Cueva de los Letreros (“Cave of the Signboards”), near Vélez Rubio, is famous for its cave paintings, and is part of a World Heritage Site, Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula.^[2]
• La Cueva del Gabar near Vélez-Blanco also has cave paintings.^[1]

Notes[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park.

• Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park
• (in Spanish) PARQUE NATURAL SIERRA MARÍA-LOS VÉLEZ
• (in Spanish) Sierra María - Los Vélez Natural Park