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Genal Valley - Natural Park |
 The Genal Valley is situated in The Serrania de Ronda Mountain range in
Andalucia's province of Malaga, southern Spain, where we are
introduced to a paradise of nature with panoramic views and an
abundance of wildlife beyond belief.
With and area of 42,000 Hectares, the Genal Valley has been designated
a Natural Park, and the River Genal is reported to be one of Europe's
cleanest rivers.
This Genal Valley is one of the last few remaining natural
Mediterranean Oak Forests, which were once stretched across most of the
Mediterranean coastline in both Southern Europe and North Africa.
 There are 16 White Villages, dotted throughout the Valley where the
inhabitants enjoy the good life. Hard working but never rushed, the
people are welcoming and friendly. The Villages are ideal for touring
around, enjoying the bars and restaurants as you go.
This area is considered to be one of the best preserved in Europe and
the Mediterranean area, in that it contains verdant forests, stands of
Spanish Fir (abies pinsapo) chestnut woods and animals in danger of
extinction such as the otter (lutra).
 The Penibaetic Mountain Range is a mountain range that is not
dissimilar in geological terms to the Rifs Mountains in northern
Morocco, it probably represents a part of Europe and the Iberian
peninsula, that has been torn apart from the European mainland and
squeezed on to the African Continent.
The Genal Valley is literally littered with old mule tracks and
pathways which link all the Villages together. Along these trails you
can discover a plethora of flora and fauna through a variety of
landscapes. Thick un-spoilt natural Mediterranean Oak forests, open
river beds and high areas of rugged lunar limestone.
 The wildlife is in abundance, for the experienced and amature alike.
The bird community is particularly rich and breeding birds include
Golden, Bonellis, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Griffon and Egyptian
Vultures, Peregrine Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Eagle Owl, White-rumped,
Alpine and Pallid Swifts, Blue Rock Thrush, Rock Thrush, Black
Wheatear, Black Redstart, Chough, Rock Sparrow, Rock Bunting and
Crossbill.
The Serran and its surroundings include three major natural parks,
Sierra de las Nieves (declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1995),
Sierra de Grazalema (declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977) and
Los Alcornocales a richly wooded park and declared ZEPA reserve (zone
of especial protection for the birds).
Heavily protected from developers there is an ecological harmony here, which is difficult to find elsewhere....
Discover Costa Tropical.com would like to thank Colm Corcoran from
Genal Valley.com for providing us with this facinating and informative
article and beautiful photographs.
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