Draft:Parc Natural de Cap de Creus

• Comment: More sources from other sites are required, as I see Parcs Naturals de Catalunya. Generalitat de Catalunya, a primary site, is used many times. Read WP:GNG and WP:N for more information. ☮️Counter-Strike:Mention 269🕉️^{(🗨️ ● ✉️ ● 📔)} 17:07, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: All of the parcsnaturals.gencat.cat links are dead and they are not archived on the Wayback Machine. Ca ^{talk to me!} 12:58, 3 June 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: The last two sections are not written in an encyclopedic tone, please revisit. João^hola 10:12, 24 May 2025 (UTC)

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Cap de Creus Natural Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
File:Paisatge Maritim Cap de Creus.jpg Coastal landscape within the park
Location	Alt Empordà, Catalonia, Spain
Nearest city	Figueres
Coordinates	42°18′N 3°13′E
Area	13,873 ha (34,280 acres) (10,798 ha terrestrial, 3,075 ha marine)
Established	12 March 1998 (Law 4/1998)
Governing body	Generalitat de Catalunya (Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda)
Website	parcsnaturals.gencat.cat/en/cap-creus

The Cap de Creus Natural Park (Parc Natural de Cap de Creus; Spanish: Parque Natural del Cabo de Creus) is a protected area in the Alt Empordà comarca, province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Established by Law 4/1998 of the Catalan Parliament on 12 March 1998, it was the first maritime-terrestrial natural park designated in Catalonia. The park covers the Cap de Creus peninsula, the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, and is noted for its geological features, biodiversity, and cultural sites.

The park encompasses a total area of 13,873 hectares (34,280 acres), consisting of 10,798 ha (26,680 acres) of land and 3,075 ha (7,600 acres) of marine environment. It includes territory within eight municipalities: Cadaqués, El Port de la Selva, La Selva de Mar, Llançà, Palau-saverdera, Pau, Roses, and Vilajuïga.

Geography and Geology

The park is centered on the Cap de Creus peninsula, a mountainous area representing the easternmost extension of the Pyrenees where they meet the Mediterranean Sea. The coastline is characterized by cliffs, coves (cales), small islands (such as S'Encalladora and Massa d'Or), and headlands including Cap Norfeu and Cap de Creus itself.

The park's geology is primarily composed of metamorphic rocks, mainly schist and gneiss, formed approximately 500 million years ago during the Hercynian orogeny under conditions of high pressure and temperature. Intrusions of lighter-coloured pegmatite and aplite veins occur. Prolonged erosion, influenced by the northern Tramuntana wind and marine action, has shaped the rocks into distinct formations, some exhibiting pareidolia (resembling figures or objects, e.g., near Tudela and Cap Gros). This landscape is recognized for its geological interest, designated as a GEosite.

Biodiversity

The park's location, terrain, and the combination of terrestrial and marine environments support a variety of flora and fauna adapted to local conditions.

Terrestrial

The terrestrial area is largely covered by Mediterranean scrubland and maquis, vegetation shaped by wind exposure, summer drought, and sea salt spray. Common plant species include lentisk, rosemary, thyme, rockroses, broom species, and Phoenician juniper. Stands of holm oak and cork oak occur in more sheltered locations. Endemic or rare plant species present include *Seseli farrenyi* and *Limonium geronense*. Terrestrial fauna includes birds of prey such as Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata), the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), and the eagle owl (Bubo bubo). Reptiles found in the park include the ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) and several snake species. Mammals include the wild boar (Sus scrofa), badger (Meles meles), and beech marten (Martes foina). The park also serves as a stopover point for migratory birds.

Marine

The protected marine area of over 3,000 hectares contains ecosystems considered significant for biodiversity in the northwestern Mediterranean. These include extensive meadows of the endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica, which function as habitats and nursery grounds for marine species. Underwater cliffs and rocky seabeds host coralligenous communities containing gorgonians (sea fans), sponges, bryozoans, and red algae. Fish populations include groupers, bream, and wrasse. Crustaceans such as the spiny lobster are present. The marine environment provides feeding grounds for seabirds nesting on coastal cliffs and islands, including the European shag (Gulosus aristotelis), Scopoli's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), the Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan), and gull species (Larus michahellis, Ichthyaetus audouinii). Cetaceans, such as the bottlenose dolphin, may be observed offshore.

Protection and Management

The legislation establishing the park created several zones with varying levels of protection to conserve natural and cultural resources while permitting compatible human activities:

• Integral Nature Reserves (Reserves Naturals Integrals): Areas with the highest level of protection, encompassing sites considered to be of major ecological importance. Access is generally restricted to scientific research and conservation management. These include parts of Cap Norfeu, the Cap de Creus headland (including Tudela), and several islands (S'Encalladora, Massa d'Or).
• Partial Nature Reserves (Reserves Naturals Parcials): Designated to protect specific ecosystems, particularly in the marine environment around Farallons, Cap Norfeu, and the Cap de Creus headland. Activities such as fishing and anchoring are regulated within these zones.
• Natural Sites of National Interest (Paratges Naturals d'Interès Nacional - PNIN): Covering large areas of the park's landscape, these zones are managed to conserve natural features while accommodating regulated traditional uses and recreation. The PNIN of Cap de Creus covers the terrestrial part, and the PNIN of the Albera Littoral covers the northern section near Llançà.
• Peripheral Protection Area (Àrea de Protecció Perifèrica): A buffer zone bordering the main park area.

The park is managed by the Generalitat de Catalunya through its Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda. Regulations are in place for activities such as hiking, navigation, diving, fishing, construction, and scientific research to minimize environmental impact.

Cultural Heritage

The Cap de Creus area contains evidence of human occupation over various historical periods. Megalithic structures from the Neolithic period, including dolmens (e.g., Dolmen de la Creu d'en Cobertella near Roses) and menhirs, indicate prehistoric activity. The Romanesque Sant Pere de Rodes monastery, primarily dating from the 10th-12th centuries and located on the Verdera mountain slope, is a significant historical and architectural site within the park's area of influence. Remnants of historical defenses, such as medieval coastal watchtowers (e.g., Norfeu Tower), are found along the coastline. Traditional rural structures include dry-stone walls for agricultural terracing (feixes or paret seca) and shepherds' huts (barraques). Fishing villages like Cadaqués and El Port de la Selva possess historical significance related to the park area. The landscape and light of Cap de Creus have been represented in the works of artists and writers. The surrealist painter Salvador Dalí lived and worked in Portlligat, adjacent to Cadaqués, and the Cap de Creus landscape appears in many of his paintings.

Tourism and Activities

Cap de Creus attracts visitors interested in nature and cultural sites. Available activities include:

• Hiking: A network of marked trails exists within the park, including sections of the GR 11 (Pyrenean Trail), which ends here, and the GR 92 (Mediterranean Coastal Trail). Local trails provide access to coves, viewpoints, and heritage sites.
• Kayaking and Boating: The coastline can be explored by kayak or boat. Regulations apply, particularly concerning speed limits, anchoring (generally restricted to designated buoys or sandy areas outside reserves), and access to Integral Reserves.
• Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: The marine reserve's underwater environment offers opportunities for diving and snorkeling. Access is regulated, often requiring arrangement through authorized local operators.
• Visiting Viewpoints and Lighthouses: The Cap de Creus lighthouse at the easternmost point offers views and contains a visitor information point. Other viewpoints include Sant Salvador Saverdera, Puig Alt, and Cap Norfeu.
• Cultural Visits: Options include exploring the towns of Cadaqués and El Port de la Selva, visiting Dalí's House-Museum in Portlligat (booking required), and the Sant Pere de Rodes monastery complex.

Visitor centres and information points, such as those at the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes and the Cap de Creus lighthouse, provide maps, guidance on regulations, and information about the park.

External links

• Official Website of Parc Natural de Cap de Creus (Generalitat de Catalunya)

Category:Natural parks of Spain Category:Protected areas established in 1998 Category:Protected areas of Catalonia Category:Alt Empordà Category:Cap de Creus Category:Coastal geography of Catalonia Category:Marine protected areas of Spain Category:Parks in the Province of Girona Category:Protected areas of the Pyrenees Category:IUCN Category V