The largest lake in the Iberian peninsula
Lake of Sanabria and Sierras Segundera and de Porto
During the Upper Pleistocene age, over 100,000 years ago, an impressive glacier with ice tongues of more than 20 kilometres in length gave rise to what is currently known as the Lago de Sanabria.Today, its 318 hectares of surface area and depth reaching 51 metres make it the largest lake in the Iberian peninsula.
The abundant forests surrounding the Lago de Sanabria are formed by Pyrenean oaks. There are also interesting clumps of holly and yew trees while birch trees and alders are plentiful in the banks of the rivers that descend from the summits or link the different lakes contained within the natural park.
El Cañón del Tera
Very near the riverbank of the Lago de Sanabria, in Ribadelago Viejo, is the starting point of the walk through the narrow and spectacular Cañón del Tera. On leaving Ribadelago Viejo, and always parallel to the river's course, is the gorge. After leaving the path to San Martín de Castañeda to the right and crossing the Tera through an improvised walkway, the trail continues through an area full of large stones, brought there by the water current.
Declared
Category: Natural Park (32,302 ha.)
- Municipalities in the province of Zamora:
- Cobreros,
- Galende,
- Porto,
- Trefacio
Visitor Centre
Park House of the Lake of Sanabria and Sierras Segundera y de Porto
In this space visitors can observe and admire the Nature Park’s various habitats, which change in accordance with the altitude. This space also provides a fascinating insight into the habitats of Lake Sanabria, one of the Park’s most important features.
Address: Ctra. ZA-104, Km 4,5. Rabanillo (Galende). 49360 Zamora.
Telephone: 980 621 872
Email: cp.sanabria@patrimonionatural.org
Website: http://www.patrimonionatural.org/casas.php?id_casa=168
Show morePark House of the Lake of Sanabria and Sierras Segundera y de Porto
Enviromental Areas
- Fauna:
- Lots of animals, 76 bird species and 17 large mammals. Most notably the grey partridge and the wolf.
- Relief:
- Quaternary glacial modelling that has given rise to the largest lake of glacial origin in the Iberian peninsula.
- Vegetation:
- Oak woods predominate. Alders, ash trees, willows, birch, holly, yew and chestnut trees.
