Comenius Meeting DROPS of NatureLeón, Spain 20-25 October 2014

MONTESINHO NATURAL PARK

SOME INFORMATION

Located in the Northeast of the country in the municipalities of Bragançaand Vinhais

Created in 1979

One of the largest protected areas in Portugal.

Symbol: chestnut flower

Area: 75 000 hectares, includes about 9000 inhabitants spread over 92 villages.

Succession of hills and valleys deeply embedded, with altitudes ranging from 438 to 1481mt where villages, nestled in sheltered and discrete points, may be easily unnoticed by the casual visitor .

FLORA

Very varied due to geographical location and great geological and climate variability of northern Portugal.

Higher areas: species of Atlantic climate regions such as heather (Erica cinerea) and grass (Agrostis curtisii).

Lower areas: typically Mediterranean vegetation with plants like the spurge flax (Daphne gnidium), the gum rock rose (Cistus lanadifer), the sage-leaved rock rose (Cistus salviifolius) and the butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus).

Heather Grass Spurge flax Gum rock rose Butcher's broom

Species like violets (Viola parvula and bubanii), the Americanspeedwell (veronica americana) and the hedge woundwort (stachyssylvatica) can easily be found near rivers like Tuela, Sabor, Rabaçal, etc.

Violet Hedge woundwortAmerican speedwell

Daffodils and orchids also prevalent

Daffodils Orchids

Most common trees: chestnut trees, pine trees, oak trees and birches.

Oak trees

Chestnut trees

Pine trees

Birches

FAUNA

Very rich and diversified, hosts around 250 species of vertebrates and many invertebrates.

70 mammal species, more than 160 bird species, exclusive and rare butterflies and fish, preserved species or species in risk of extinction, like the Iberian wolf or the golden-eagle, can be spotted in the Park.

Buck OtterRabbit Boar

Iberian-wolf

Deer Iberian-lynx

Hare

Rock blackbird

Golden-Eagle

Exclusive and rare butterflies in the Park

Lycaena virgaureae Brenthis Daphne Boloria Dia Aphantopus hyperantum

The students:

Fernando MadureiraMaria Inês Santos

Agrupamento de Escolas Miguel Torga BragançaPortugal