Iberian Flora and Fauna

Will the endangered Dragon Tree and Iberian lynx cat survive?

Iberian Flora and Fauna are inseparable; extensively influenced by the Peninsula’s geographical, geological ecosystems and climatic (historic) traits.

The Peninsula's Orography: (average height of land), well suits a slogan: Spain is One Big Mountain. The country is split by the Sistema Central Mountains, to the north the average height above sea level is 800mtrs, to the south it is 400mts above sea level.

The exuberant flora of the Iberian Peninsular excels European botany.

Historically, the northward drifting of the African mass constricted the European mass area. Land was slowly thrust upwards, causing 'wrinkling' in the earth's crust. High ridges (anticlines) and folds (synclines) ensued: the Alps were created; simultaneously this gave birth to a deep depression, which acted to contain the Mediterranean Sea.

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Various Types of Spanish soil.
The Iberian Peninsular rests on a base of hard crystalline rocks.
The two principal hydrographic-collecting rivers are: el río Duero to the north and in the south the río Guadiana, both exit to the sea.
One third of Spanish land is dedicated to agriculture.
The North and Western soils are acid, supporting Beech and Pine Forests.

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The Meseta: La Meseta Central (with an average elevation of 2,000ft above sea level) sprawls over the ancient core. Its vast tableland is composed of limestone, sandstone, clays and sedimentary rocks.
The famed Extremenian Spanish Steppes, (home to Europe’s largest population of Great Buzzards)and equally, the diverse avifauna of the shallow saline lakes of the Parque Nacional de Doñana and neighbouring Parque Natural or, in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar’s Natural Park, all are excellent features of the varied soil ecology systems.

Fold Mountains are not all the same age.
New Fold Mountains are: the Himalayas, Alps, Pyrenees, Rockies and the Andes. The fast melt-water streams of the high slopes of New Fold Mountains, are good sources for power generation.

The heights of the New Fold Mountains act as a natural land barrier, i.e. the Pyrenees separate Western Europe from Spain. The 'rabbit' was isolated in Spain and played a major role towards the survival of many Iberian species, especially the Lynx.

Old Fold Mountains (Hercynian Mountains) eroded and exposed to climate change, rivers, and glaciers. Many faults formed, revealing irregular peaks, fragmented plateaus and hewn domes are their typical characteristics, being much less rugged than the New Fold Mountains. The Iberian Mountains and Sierra Morena formed directly from the ancient granite core.
The Central Sierras are Residual Mountains, where the highland remained above the general level, following the erosive effects of the passage of rivers and other natural agents, which lowered the surrounding area's surface.

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Mountains are effective climate barriers. Either side can experience quite different climes, the side facing the sea or ocean will experience the most rainfall. Weather conditions vary from the peaks to their lowlands. Heavy rainfall and consequent fast streams, improve the irrigation of agriculture plateaus below

Each ecosystem has their habitat. Spain and Andalucia have a massive programme for protecting the National and Natural Parks. See our Iberian Birds pages.

We will gradually be adding more and more information to this page.

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