Iberianature

Laguna Negra and the Urbion Glacial Circuit Natural Park
March 10, 2010
The Natural Park Laguna Negra and the Urbion Glacial Circuit is to be declared Soria’s second Natural Park. The park will cover a total of 4617 hectares of land and include two villages (Vinuesa and Duruelo de la Sierra).  The area includes the glacial lake of Laguna Negra, which inspired Antonio Machado, and also includes the source of the Duero. Soria’s other Natural Park in Soria is the Canyon Rio Lobos, which was declared in  1985. More on the forum

• More on Soria from Alfredo on the excellent Spanishfootsteps

A blog about Burgos
March 10, 2010
I’ve just come across  Memorias de Burgos, an excellent blog about the secret corners of the province with its abandoned villages and abbeys, oil fields and salt workings, forgotten history and stunning nature. Above photo Portillo de Canta el Gallo from the site. It’s inspired me to add The Ayoluengo petrol field and Rioseco Abbey to the Places in Spain section.

Shrine to woman killed by wolves
March 8, 2010
New one for Places in Spain. A shrine to a woman supposedly devoured by wolves on Mt Gorbea in the Basque Country.

Three lynxes die from renal disease
March 8, 2010
Three Iberian lynxes of the captive breeding programme have died in recent weeks from a renal disease. Lynxes in the wild are thought not to suffer from this disease. El País

Rain in February in Spain
March 8, 2010
According to the INM, February was the wettest for 30 years in Spain. See also rain in Andalucia in February. This comes after a very wet January. March has begun with heavy rains and snowfalls. When will it end?

Interview about wolves
March 8, 2010
Radio interview on Canal Ser with Carlos Sanz, perhaps the biggest expert on wolves in Spain and livestock farmer Rodrigo Peñalosa, looking at both sides of the debate around wolves in Spain. Listen here.

Rain in Andalucia
March 6, 2010
The rains keep falling. Rainfall in Andalucia in February, after a very wet January, was THREE times as high as average in the last thirty years. Parts of Cadiz received more than 200mm. Recent records have been smashed across the region. More from El Periodico See also Rainy Spain

Documentary about bears
March 2, 2010
Interesting documentary from TVE about bears in the Cordillera Cantábrica with Guillermo Palomero, President of Fundación Oso Pardo. Watch here