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Corners of intact nature in Europe

2020-07-10T18:39:38.715Z


The Old Continent still houses places where civilization seems far away. From lakes where bears live in the wild to parks where the bison is king. Unaltered landscapes of great beauty


  • 1Triglav National Park (Slovenia) It is difficult to find such turquoise waters and such green grass elsewhere in Europe. The Triglav National Park in Slovenia is a gigantic 840 square kilometer natural paradise, full of lakes, gorges, rivers, waterfalls and endless alpine meadows. Perhaps the corner of greatest scenic beauty is the one located around the Tolmin gorge, easily accessible on a circular route of approximately two hours in which you will have to cross the Hudičev most or Devil's Bridge, suspended over the Tolminka river at 70 meters Tall. It will be almost impossible for our knees not to shake as we look down and feel at the edge of the abyss. Marius Roman Getty Images

  • 2Danube National Park (Austria) In one of the last large river plains areas of central Europe, the Danube continues to decide its own course over 40 kilometers between the European capitals of Vienna and Bratislava. With its oscillating flow it determines the day to day of this fertile plain, home to numerous animal and plant species, some of which are threatened. The dense riverside forests of this protected area can be explored on foot, by bike or by canoe. In addition, rangers regularly organize guided tours. In the photo, a group of pelicans at sunset in the Danube delta, near Romania. Paul Biris GETTY IMAGES

  • 3Thingvellir National Park (Iceland) After the thunderous waterfalls, ravines and rivers of the Thingvellir valley, a site of great historical significance awaits Iceland. On the Thingvellir esplanade, near the very visited Almannagjá gorge, in 930 the Vikings met in the first democratic assemblies, founding the Alþingi, the first parliament in the world. It was also there that Iceland adopted Christianity in the year 1000 and it was also in Thingvellir, or þingvellir as they say in Icelandic, where the Republic of Iceland was born on June 17, 1944. In the Thingvellir national park is also the fissure of Silfra , where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are separated. Shobeir Ansari Getty Images

  • 4Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) It is the oldest national park in Croatia. A 295-square-kilometer forest reserve located in the center of the country and known for its 16 crystalline lakes communicated with one another by whispering rivers and spectacular waterfalls, making this place a gigantic water games park. It is also home to many bears and wolves, whose number in the wild is the highest in Europe. Although tourism discovered this park for a long time - around a million people visit it each year -, with some patience, you can still find solitary corners. Sebastian Condrea GETTY IMAGES

  • 5Picos de Europa (Spain) Where there is a mountain there is usually also a path: a path that you have to climb. And, the harder the challenge, the greater the fascination. The ascent of the western wall of the Naranjo de Bulnes, a powerful monolith of the Picos de Europa, 2,500 meters above sea level, is considered one of the biggest challenges among climbing fans. But you don't have to be an adrenaline junkie to experience the intoxication of this limestone range: countless alpine trails meander through these foothills. Especially spectacular is the Cares route, which unites the towns of Caín de Valdeón (León) and Poncebos (Asturias), 12 kilometers that make up one of the most impressive hiking routes in Spain. In the image, some hikers in the lakes of Covadonga, in the Asturian municipality of Cangas de Onís. Íñigo Fernández de Pinedo GETTY IMAGES

  • 6Jötunheimen National Park (Norway) Whoever visits this national park, some 200 kilometers north of Oslo, will enter the Kingdom of the Giants, or at least that would be the literal translation of Jøtunheimen. The giants are actually Norway's highest peaks, towering skyward, towering and majestic at 2,500 meters. Excursions of one or several days allow to visit glaciers, stony plains and alpine lakes. Here is also one of the most famous and most trodden hiking trails in Norway: Mount Besseggen. Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld Getty Images

  • Friesian Sea (Germany) Walking on the water on a thin foot is an almost impossible challenge. Except on the North Sea coast, where, approximately every 12 hours, the sea recedes and experienced guides - in no case should you go alone - take tourists for a walk through the marshes. The tides ensure that the landscape changes constantly, creating a unique environment for animals and plants. So special is the Frisian Sea, which stretches from the Netherlands along the German coast to Denmark, and Unesco has declared it a World Heritage Site. In the photo, aerial view of Schiermonnikoog, the smallest uninhabited Frisian island on the Dutch coast. Frans Lemmens Getty Images

  • 8Peneda-Gerès National Park (Portugal) Due to its many facets, the only national park in Portugal is among the most beautiful protected areas in southern Europe. From the alpine lakes and swamps in the heights of the park, populated by genists and junipers, to the evergreen valleys where mulberry, eucalyptus and oak trees grow. Its interior also hides a unique animal life: wolves, wild cats, golden eagles, otters and even vipers inhabit this territory. It is easy to get there with public transport and there are several campsites where you can stay overnight. ALAMY

  • 9Garajonay National Park (La Gomera, Spain) The steep and narrow access roads to this park meander at 1,500 meters of altitude, making the mere journey to Garajonay an experience. Along the way we find knotty trees covered with moss, which every few days open to offer views of the abrupt dark green valleys of La Gomera. Once up in the Alto de Garajonay, an excellent network of meager wilderness trails covered by a thick canopy awaits. When this Canary Islands laurel forest finally thinns, impressive views appear from the Los Roques viewpoints. Dominic Dähncke GETTY IMAGES

  • 10 High Tatra (Poland and Slovenia) For Slovaks, the 2,500-meter summit of Kriváň is practically a must-see at least once in a lifetime. So much so that this summit, almost always snowy, is featured as a national symbol and is featured on Slovak five-cent coins. The rest of Europe is now beginning to discover this hiking paradise which is the High Tatra, a small and picturesque part of the Carpathians where 25 peaks over 2,500 meters huddle, full of waterfalls, cozy hostels and countless trails. aeduard Getty Images

  • 11Durmitor National Park (Montenegro) Durmitor National Park, in the north-west of Montenegro, offers extraordinary unspoilt nature, and not only because here is the deepest canyon in Europe, 1,300 meters. In winter the attraction is on the slopes of the Bobotov Kuk (2,500 meters) with its perfect conditions for winter sports; in summer the region becomes a mecca for hikers, climbers and water sports fans. Of course, whoever enters the solitude of these mountains must do so properly equipped. vpopovic Getty Images

  • 12Hortobágy National Park (Hungary) With more than 800 square kilometers in length, this park in eastern Hungary is, in addition to a World Heritage Site, an impressive example of how nature protection and agricultural exploitation can be compatible . In this immensity all kinds of natural environments are happening: bogs, meadows and forests to the puszta of Hortobágy, the largest steppe in central Europe. And this despite the fact that, for more than 2000 years, this land has been hosting numerous ranchers and farmers. Kiss Gergo / EyeEm Getty Images

  • 13 Dolomites (Italy) In summer it is a hiking paradise and in winter one of the most popular ski areas in Europe. The Dolomites know how to make the attractiveness of their nature profitable like few other places. At any time of the year, visitors have good infrastructure and superbly located and pleasant hotel complexes. Anyone who wants to combine skiing and hiking can try one of the many cross-country ski routes. It is about climbing a mountain practicing cross-country skiing, then returning to the valley through virgin snow. Achim Thomae Getty Images

  • 14Nuuksio National Park (Finland) Forests, lakes, swamps ... Not far from Helsinki is this unique recreation area with numerous protected animal and plant species, including a large population of European flying squirrels. There are plenty of trails, including an accessible route for people with reduced mobility. Whoever plans a longer stay, has campsites or shelters with bathroom and stove. It is necessary to always reserve in advance to avoid running out of accommodation. Joao Inacio Getty Images

  • 15Bialowieza National Park (Poland) It is the last virgin forest in Europe, rigorously protected, so it has not been exploited for almost 100 years. Inside this enclave, declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1977 and Unesco World Heritage in 1979, nature grows at its own pace, without the intervention of man, which has resulted in majestic specimens of oaks and lime trees with more 400 years old. It is also the home of the European bison, an imposing animal that was on the brink of extinction. The park is only accessible on guided tours with the rangers. Boguslaw Chyla Getty Images

  • 16National Park of the Curonian Spit (Lithuania) This land language, which belongs equally to Lithuania and Russia, captures its original mix of dunes and rugged beaches. It is also the preferred scale for migratory birds in spring and autumn. Every year a minimum of 15 million birds pass through this corner. There are also species that nest and live on the peninsula: swans, ducks, pelicans, herons, cormorants and petrels among other species. In Nida, an artist colony, painters such as the expressionist Max Pechstein lived from 1900. Thomas Mann worked near here on his novel José and his brothers until 1932. Today, this world heritage region can be explored on excursions on foot, by bike, kayak or sailboat. Michael Runkel / robertharding GETTY IMAGES

  • 17Isla de Cabrera (Spain) Where do Mallorcans flee when they need to disconnect? The island of Cabrera, although it is a scant 10 kilometers from the favorite destination of the Germans, could not be further (mentally) from the disco area of ​​Mallorca. From the extreme south to the extreme north there are, as from the western to the eastern, just five and a half kilometers. Here there are caves, ruins of ancient forts, a marine cemetery full of ghostly specters and a solitary lighthouse. Alexander Nikiforov GETTY IMAGES

  • 18Island of Spitsbegen (Norway) Spitsbergen… Wasn't that the largest island in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, towards the North Pole, with terrible cold and polar bears everywhere? Yes and no. Spitsbergen is home to, for example, Huset, the eleventh best Norwegian restaurant and the Svalbard World Seed Bank. And you can also travel on a dog sled even in summer. Polar bears are rarely found, although it is only allowed to leave the small mining town of Longyearbyen with a guide, armed with a shotgun. An outdoor paradise, especially in summer. In the photo, colorful houses of Longyearbyen, in Svalbard (Norway). anjci (c) all rights reserved GETTY IMAGES

  • 19 Abruzzo National Park (Italy) For almost a century, nature has been fighting unequally with civilization to preserve its space 150 kilometers east of Rome. Abruzzo has been a national park since 1922, although that protection was revoked during the fascist governments of Benito Mussolini. Fortunately, since the 1950s this picturesque mountainous region of old forests and rich fauna has enjoyed the privileges necessary for animals and plants to breathe easy again. Here live brown bears, wolves, deer and roe deer; and in the trees, owls and golden eagles. MacEaton alamy

  • 20Peak District (England) As you stroll through the vast plateaus of the Peak District, you can enjoy the company of free sheep more than once. This region of central England was the first national park in Great Britain and includes the regions of White Peak and Dark Peak, very different from each other. In the first, to the north, the uninhabited wasteland stands out above all, while White Peak, to the south, impresses with its limestone formations and river valleys. joe daniel price Getty Images

Source: elparis

All news articles on 2020-07-10

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