Castenea Forest, Valle del Genal, Spain

The Castenea forest of the Valle del Genal, Andalucia, Spain is one of the world's greatest botanical wonders. Europe's largest forested region comprising of Los Alcornacles, Sierra de la Nieves and Los Reales de Sierra Bermaja.


Some interesting facts about Andalucia:

Andalucia is the most southern of the seventeen autonomous states that make-up Spain.
Andalucia is made up of 8 provinces - Huelva, Sevilla, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Jaen, Granada and Almeria.
The capital city of the province is Sevilla.
Andalucia is the second most mountainous region in Europe after Switzerland.
There are over 30 bullrings in Andalucia registered by the Regional Government.
Andalucia has 27 public astronomical observatories.
The Osborne Bull is the black silhouette of a bull that stands on hilltops and along the roads in most of Spain.
The Kite surfing World Championships are held each year off the coast of Tavria along the Costa de la Luz.
Christopher Columbus departed for America from Huelva.
Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga in 1881.
The Province of Jaen is the olive growing capital for Spain.
Flamenco dancing is the traditional form of dance of Andalucia.
Andalucía is the world stronghold for the Griffon Vulture.
Andalucía is home to the only rainforest along the entire Mediterranean coastline, the magnificent Los Alcornecales.
The world’s greatest bird migration occurs each spring and autumn when literally ten of thousands of birds cross the Straits of Gibraltar.
Andalucía has more species of flora and fauna than anywhere else in Europe, it is the biodiverse hotspot of Europe.
The Iberian Lynx one of the rarest cats in the world is not confined to the Cota Donana as is often thought….. in fact it has a wide distribution across Andalucía.
The rain in Spain does not fall mainly of the plain. That honour goes to the fabulous mountainous region of Grazalema, where annual rainfall often exceed 2.2 metres.
The world’s rarest pine tree species the Pinsapo is only found in the Serranía de Ronda.
Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning novelist and correspondent, Ernest Hemingway was able to capture the essence of the Spanish way of life and its unique culture. He spent many summers living in Ronda.
Children attending infant schools in the campo (countryside) in Spain are taught about natural history as part of the education curriculum.

Camera:	Canon EOS 5D MkII
Lens:	Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
Recording media:	RAW (digital)

Title:	Castenea Forest, Valle del Genal, Spain
Username:	AndalucianPhotoAdventures
Uploaded:	13 Aug 2012 - 3:03 PM
Tags:	Andalucia, Andalusia, Castanea, Genal, Geoff simpson, Landscape / travel, Los Alcornacles, Spain, Sweet chestnut
Votes:	6