Page 238 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

236  EASTERN SP AIN

4 Parque Nacional de Ordesa

Within its borders the Parque Nacional de Ordesa
y Monte Perdido combines all the most dramatic
elements of Spain’s Pyrenean scenery. At the heart
of the park are four glacial canyons – the Ordesa,
Añisclo, Pineta and Escuain valleys – which carve
the great upland limestone massifs into spec­
tacular cliffs and chasms. Most of the park is
accessible only on foot: even then, snow during
autumn and winter makes it inaccessible to all
ex cept those with specialist climbing equipment. Valle de Ordesa
In high summer, however, the crowds testify to The Río Arazas cuts through forested
limestone escarpments, providing
the park’s well­earned reputation as a paradise some of Ordesa’s most popular walks.
for walkers and nature lovers alike.
Brecha de
EL TAILLÓN Rolando MONTE PERDIDO

3,355 M
3,144 M (11,008 FT)
(10,315 FT) Gruta de J
Casteret Refugio de Góriz
MONDARRUEGO Arazas
J
2,848 M Cascada
(9,344 FT) Cola de Caballo
Gradas
VALLE DE ORDESA
de Soaso
Cascada
Torro botera
Torla-Ordesa

Torla-Ordesa
This village, at the gateway to the park, huddles Biescas Broto
beneath the forbidding slopes of Mondarruego. Fanlo
With its core of cobbled streets and slate-roofed Buiśan
houses around the church, Torla is a popular base
for visitors to Ordesa. Oto
Sarvisé
Ara
Jalle
Pyrenean Wildlife
Ainsa
Ordesa is a spectacle of flora and fauna, with many of its species
unique to the region. Trout streams rush along the valley floor,
where slopes provide a mantle of various woodland harbouring 0 kilometres 2
creatures such as otters, marmots and capercaillies (large grouse).
On the slopes, flowers burst out before the snow melts, with 0 miles 2
gentians and orchids sheltering in crevices and edelweiss braving
the most hostile crags. Higher up,
the Pyrenean chamois is still fairly
common; but the Ordesa ibex, or Key
mountain goat, became extinct
in 2000. Attempts to resurrect it Major road
by cloning have had little success Minor road
so far. The rocky pinnacles above Footpath
the valley are the domain of birds Spanish/French border
of prey, among them the huge
bearded vulture. National park boundary

Spring gentian (Gentiana verna)
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p567 and pp590–91

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