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| Serra
do Alvão |
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| Park
Alvão |
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| Park
Alvão |
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In
Alvão, among the spectacular geological formations
and the harmony of the natural eco-systerns, daily
routines lose much of their significance and the
return to Nature takes on a spontaneous appeal.
Text provided by the Portuguese
Tourist Office (with
minimal corrections)
In
this natural park, which essentially occupies the
western slope of the Alvão Mountain, the
geology is the major conditioning factor in the
natural land-scape. In
all the upper zone, which includes Lamas de Olo
and Arnal, the profusion of large granite blocks
makes the landscape harsh and angular. The Basal
Zone, with its narrow enclosed valleys (Varzigueto,
Fervença and Ermelo) is characterised by
schists and by the presence of an abrupt change
of altitude, which gives rise to the spectacu-lar
Fisgas waterfalls. Benefiting
from the joint effect of the temperate Mediterra-nean
type climate and the alpine influ-ences (caused
by the altitude), together with the humidity of
air masses from the Ocean, the original flora of
this region still has a marked presence, despite
the recent increase in grazing areas and pine forestation.
The
stretches of leafy forest house an enormous biological
diversity, with species such as the white birch,
the English oak, the black oak, the holly, the bay
or the chestnut. The fauna is also exceptional in
the Alvão Natural Park because of its diversity
and abundance. Amphibians and reptiles are found
widely and the birds, particularly birds of prey
like the round winged eagle, and smaller birds like
the titmouse or the "Estrelinha de cabeça
listada" [striped headed star] choose this
as a favoured location. The
mammals are mostly small, such as the field mouse
or the rabbit and these make up the park's fauna,
although it should be mentioned that the wolf occasionally
appears in this protected area. Ermelo
and Lamas de Olo are today considered the most suitable
places to visit and find the best examples of popu-lar
architecture in the region. Despite the introduction
of new standards and technology that has lead. to
the replace-ment of many traditional materials (granite
and thatch) with more modern ones, it is still easy
to come across small neighbourhoods where granite
and schist are dominant. The most interesting walks
can also be organised in the area around these two
villages to
the Arrábida Convent are an essential extra
on this trip
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