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Somiedo

Somiedo is on the UN's list tentative list for new World Heritage Sites for Spain . They state:

This site includes mountain terrain of the Cantabrian range characterised by the co-existence of outstanding ecological values along with a unique ethnographic legacy bearing witness to man's ancestral method of exploiting resources which has been conserved and is in the process of being recovered thanks to the impetus of local development and sustainable tourism.

This site includes two differentiated areas: on the one hand the Ancares, a district found between the Autonomous Communities of Galicia and Castile-Leon ? , specifically in the provinces of Lugo (Cervantes Municipality) and Leon (Municipalities of Candín and Vega de Espinareda located in the El Bierzo district) and, on the other hand, the Municipality of Somiedo located in the Principality of Asturias. Notwithstanding the above, the cultura vaqueira (cattle-herding culture) is also found in other parts of Asturias (south-east) encompassing the Municipalities of Cangas del Narcea, Ibias and Degaña, connecting these two areas and bearing witness to the breadth of the site.

Both areas are linked to ancestral lines of communication given that the Route of Santiago de Compostela runs along the southern border of Ancares (reaching Vega de Valcárcel at the mouth of the Balboa River) and the road known as Camín Real de la Mesa which started out as a Roman road and runs along the path of the same name which separates Somiedo from Teverga.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE:

The mixed site Ancares-Somiedo represents the reality of these territories whose common characteristic is the braña , a traditional system of livestock herding based on transhumance, still in use today, and which defines the local landscape and society, representing a living heritage uniquely combining nature and culture.

In order to truly appreciate this culture one must gain a full understanding of the braña because underlying the domestication of unwieldy natural surroundings is a complex social, economic and even ideological reality, and naturally a constructive and technical heritage dating back to the 11 th century, reaching its apex in the 15 th and 16 th centuries and fully defined by the 18 th century. Demographic pressure led to a struggle to control and exploit necessary resources whose periodic renewal was predictable but whose shortage accounted for such keen competition: the mountain pastures, cool and damp even at the height of summer. In this connection, anthropological studies help in gaining an understanding of the importance of these grazing lands as a rational and effective technical-ecological phenomenon (see studies conducted by Adolfo García Martínez).

In Somiedo a distinction is drawn between summer brañas and those corresponding to the equinox as well as the town braña , examples being La Mesa (Saliencia), Mumián (El Coto) and La Peral respectively, to a large degree corresponding to population centres in Ancares such as Campo del Agua and Aira da Pedra. The common characteristic is the seasonal work and livestock grazing of the "firm grasses" of the pastures.

This area has also been declared a specially protected bird sanctuary (Spanish acronym ZEPA): in the Galicia-Leon ? area mainly for the protection of the grey partridge, the honey buzzard and the Eurasian eagle owl; in Asturias for the golden eagle, the Egyptian vulture, the peregrine falcon, the goshawk and the middle spotted woodpecker; and the capercaillie in both areas given its status as an endangered species.

 

General description of Somiedo

Flora of Somiedo

Wildlife of Somiedo

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temperatures in Somiedo in January - temperatures in Somiedo in February - temperatures in Somiedo in March - temperatures in Somiedo in April - temperatures in Somiedo in May - temperatures in Somiedo in June temperatures in Somiedo _ temperatures in Somiedo in July - temperatures in Somiedo in August - temperatures in Somiedo in September - temperatures in Somiedo in October - temperatures in Somiedo in November - temperatures in Somiedo in December

temperature in Somiedo in January - temperature in Somiedo in February - temperature in Somiedo in March - temperature in Somiedo in April - temperature in Somiedo in May - temperature in Somiedo in June temperature in Somiedo _ temperature in Somiedo in July - temperature in Somiedo in August - temperature in Somiedo in September - temperature in Somiedo in October - temperature in Somiedo in November - temperature in Somiedo in December

rainfall in Somiedo in January - rainfall in Somiedo in February - rainfall in Somiedo in March - rainfall in Somiedo in April - rainfall in Somiedo in May - rainfall in Somiedo in June rainfall in Somiedo _ rainfall in Somiedo in July - rainfall in Somiedo in August - rainfall in Somiedo in September - rainfall in Somiedo in October - rainfall in Somiedo in November - rainfall in Somiedo in December

precipitation in Somiedo in January - precipitation in Somiedo in February - precipitation in Somiedo in March - precipitation in Somiedo in April - precipitation in Somiedo in May - precipitation in Somiedo in June precipitation in Somiedo _ precipitation in Somiedo in July - precipitation in Somiedo in August - precipitation in Somiedo in September - precipitation in Somiedo in October - precipitation in Somiedo in November - precipitation in Somiedo in December

climate in Somiedo in January - climate in Somiedo in February - climate in Somiedo in March - climate in Somiedo in April - climate in Somiedo in May - climate in Somiedo in June climate in Somiedo _ climate in Somiedo in July - climate in Somiedo in August - climate in Somiedo in September - climate in Somiedo in October - climate in Somiedo in November - climate in Somiedo in December

 


 

 

 

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