Palermo and the Italian Dream

Spain boasts the highest number of UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserves in the world, with 55 areas. The autonomous region of Castile-León alone has 10 biosphere reserves, each with its own unique characteristics.

The Cantabrian Mountains.

The Babia Biosphere Reserve encompasses the valley of the same name at the foot of the Cantabria Mountains, covering an area of ​​approximately 38,107 hectares. It is a land of towering mountains and deep ravines, of arid rocky fields and rushing rivers. Many professional mountaineers flock to Babia to conquer its challenging peaks such as Peña Ubiña (2,417m), Peña Orniz (2,193m), Montihuero (2,180m), etc. Babia has also been voted the best place to observe astronomical phenomena in all of Spain.

Not far from Babia lies the Los Ancares Leoneses Biosphere Reserve, situated on the western edge of the Cantabria Mountains. This hilly region boasts millennia-old oak, aspen, and yew forests, surrounded by expansive meadows. Local people make their living by harvesting chestnuts, herding livestock, and, more recently, running homestays. Their ancestors were prehistoric people who lived in caves, such as the cave system at Peña Piñera. This area has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to its numerous Bronze Age murals. Also noteworthy is the Chano Stone Village, a historical site dating back to the early Iron Age. Many stone houses and wells in Chano still stand strong against the elements, having survived for over 3,000 years.

The Los Valles de Omaña y Luna Biosphere Reserve was once an important coal mining area, but today, the local mining industry has almost disappeared. Currently, only 86 small villages remain, relying on agriculture, within the reserve's 81,000 hectares. As people leave, nature takes its place. The area of ​​ancient forests here is expanding year by year. Animals such as the Cantabrian brown bear and the Eurasian grouse, once extinct from Los Valles de Omaña y Luna, have returned to their "old home." Many hikers often spend two or three days trekking along the trails that cut through the forest in Los Valles de Omaña y Luna, both to satisfy their legs and to discover nature firsthand. During the summer months, there's also the added activity of fishing for trout, which are swimming upstream to spawn.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/thien-nhien-dac-sac-vung-castile-leon-679716.html