Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park

Atlantic Islands of Galicia
IUCN category II (national park)
The Cies Islands
Location	Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain
Nearest city	Vigo
Area	8,480 hectares (84.8 km2; 32.7 sq mi)
Established	July 1, 2002
Visitors	238,939 (in 2007)
Governing body	Ministry of the Environment
Official website

The Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia, Galician: Parque Nacional das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia) is the only national park located in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It comprises the archipelagos of Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada. It covers an area of 1,200 hectares of land and 7,200 hectares of sea area. It is the tenth most visited national park in Spain. It is the only national park in Galicia, and the thirteenth national park chronologically in Spain.

Flora and fauna

Salvora and Aguiño

Islas Cíes view from Monte Ferro

This sea-land ecosystem has a laurel forest and over 200 species of seaweed. It also stands out for its shellfish, corals and anemones. As for wildlife, one can see seagulls, shags, razorbills, guillemots and dolphins.

History

There are traces of human occupation in the islands since the Iron Age. Ceramics have also been found since Roman times. The islands were occupied by various monastic orders during the Middle Ages, were owned by the Church, gauged by nobles of the time and attacked by invaders who used them as a base for raids on the coast. More recently, the islands were inhabited until the eighteenth century, but by pirates' action, people had to abandon the islands^{[citation needed]}. In 1980 the Cies Islands were declared a natural park. They are also a Special Protection Area for birds. On June 13, 2002 was declared a national park. However, 6 months later, the oil spill caused by the Prestige oil tanker came on its shores, except on the island of Cortegada. The islands of Loberiras and Sisargas could be added to the park in the future.

External links

• National Park info on the Spanish Environment Ministry website (Spanish)
• [1] (Spanish)

v t e National Parks of Spain National parks Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici Atlantic Islands of Galicia Cabañeros Cabrera Archipelago Caldera de Taburiente Doñana Garajonay Monfragüe Ordesa y Monte Perdido Picos de Europa Sierra Nevada Tablas de Daimiel Teide Timanfaya Proposed Guadarrama

Coordinates: 42°22′50″N 8°56′00″W / 42.3806°N 8.93333°W / 42.3806; -8.93333

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