Sierra Espuña Regional Park

With over 25,000 hectares, the Regional Wildlife Park of Sierra Espuña covers the municipalities of Alhama de Murcia, Totana, Aledo and Mula.

 

The sierra, part of the Betic Mountain Range, has little to do with what it was in the late 19^th century, when its ecological state was terrible due to severe desertification. That changed in 1889 when forest engineer Ricardo Codorníu undertook a successful reforestation project that has actually been copied in other parts of Spain.

 

Declared site of Cultural Interest in 1931 and protected as a Regional Park in 1992, Sierra Espuña is also categorized as a Special Bird Protected Area and site of Community importance.

 

In the park there are over 1000 plant species, 36 of them protected by law or because of their botanical value. There are many different types of pine trees: Aleppo, Pinus nigra and maritime. In addition to holm oak groves and Montpelier maple trees, there are other key species at different elevations: elm trees, black cottonwoods, poplars, rose trees, shrubs, dills and strawberry trees, whereas in the highest parts of the mountains, juneberries and junipers abound.

 

The fauna is also rich: over 120 types of bird, 38 mammals, 17 reptiles and 8 amphibians. Natterjack toads, Montpellier snakes, ladder snake, crossbills, bee-eaters and hawks, not to forget the kings of the Regional Park: Golden and Booted eagles, griffon vultures and eagle owl. The largest mammals in the park are Barbary sheeps and boars, as well as smaller ones including squirrels, rabbits, badgers and wild cats.

 

The most popular sports at Sierra Espuña are hiking, cave exploration, hunting and fishing. There are many services available and interesting places accessible for regional park visitors, such as the Ricardo Codorníu Visitor Center, 25 pozos de nieve (16th century constructions used to store ice), 3 large view points and the Gebas gullies.