Fragas do Eume
{{Short description|Natural Park of Spain}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Fragas do Eume Natural Park
| alt_name = Fragas do Eume
| photo = Fragas do Eume.jpg
| location = Galicia (Spain)
| nearest_city =
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| area =
| established = 1997
| visitation_num =
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| governing_body = Xunta de Galicia
| website =
}}
The Fragas do Eume is a natural park situated in north-west Spain. Fraga is a Galician word for "natural woodland",The meaning of the word in Castilian is somewhat different. (old-growth forest) and the park is an example of a temperate rainforest in which oak (Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica) is the climax vegetation. The protected area extends along the valley of the Eume River within the Ferrol municipalities of Pontedeume, Cabanas, A Capela, Monfero, Pontedeume, and As Pontes de García Rodríguez. Less than 500 people reside within the park, where the San Juan de Caaveiro Monastery can also be found here.
The area was declared a natural park (a level of protection lower than national park) in 1997. It is one of six natural parks in Galicia. The European Union has recognized the park as a Site of Community Importance. In addition to its wide variety of ferns, it is an important site for amphibians and invertebrates such as the Kerry slug.[http://www.mma.es/secciones/biodiversidad/rednatura2000/rednatura_espana/pdf/es1110003.pdf ES1110003], Natura 2000 listing
Flora and fauna
The Fragas do Eume is a mixed forest, considered one of the most extensive and best preserved on Europe's Atlantic coast. The slopes of the river gorge are covered by oak and chestnut trees, alongside a wide variety of ferns and lichen.{{Cite web |author=Xunta de Galicia |title=Natural Park Fragas do Eume |url=https://www.turismo.gal/que-visitar/espazos-naturais/parques-naturais/fragas-do-eume?langId=en_US |access-date=21 August 2021}}
The park is home to 103 species of birds, 41 species of mammals, eight species of fish, and endemic invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians such as the Iberian frog.
2012 fire
In 2012, a fire destroyed a section of the park, with initial estimates stating that 750 hectares had burned. Emergency services were called in to fight the blaze, and it was considered to be "controlled" by April 2nd.[http://www.europapress.es/sociedad/medio-ambiente-00647/noticia-permanece-activo-incendio-fragas-do-eume-arrasar-750-hectareas-20120402093506.html Permanece activo el incendio de las Fragas do Eume tras arrasar 750 hectáreas] {{in lang|es}}
Gallery
Regato_nas_fragas_do_Eume.jpg|Creek in the park
Anemone nemorosa.003 - Fragas do Eume.jpg|Anemone nemorosa
Fragas_do_Eume_-_Eume_River.jpg|Rio Eume, October 2023
Asphodelus albus.002 - Fragas do Eume.jpg|Asphodelus albus
Digitalis purpurea.001 - Fragas do Eume.jpg|Digitalis purpurea
Cascada, Parque natural Fragas del Eume.jpg|Waterfall
Centro interpretación Fragas do Eume, portal Pontedeume.jpg|Visitor center
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Fragas do Eume Natural Park}}
- [http://www.eumeturismo.org/esp/portada.html Official Web-site for the Ferrolterra region of Eume] {{in lang|es}}
{{Protected areas of Galicia}}
{{ferrolterra}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|43|25|03|N|08|04|06|W|source:glwiki_region:ES|display=title}}
Category:Natural parks of Spain