Badajoz Natural Reserves
Cornalvo Natural Park
Cornalvo Natural Park is located approximately in the geographical
centre of Extramadura, on the Vegas del Guadiana. It may be considered
the vertex of the two mountainous formations that converge on
this particular enclave. On the one hand, the mountainous line-up
of Sierra de San Pedro and on the other, the Sierras de Montánchez,
a prolongation of the great Villuercas massif. This is the last
mountainous barrier before crossing the Guadiana valley.
In its more than 10,500 ha area the municipal areas of Mérida,
Aljucen, Mirandilla, San Pedro de Mérida and Guarena are
partially included. The locality of Trujillanos is the traditional
entry to the park. It is not included within its limits but it
houses the exhibition centre .
The Reservoir of Orellana
Is the largest of those situated in the middle stretch of the
Guadiana River, being regulated further above by the River García
de Sola and Cijara.
The Sierra de Pela is an immense mountain range-island in the
middle of a very varied terrain of fertile plains and prairies,
where irrigated crops, cereal fields, pastures, meadows and scrubs
alternate, being one of the enclaves of Extremadura with the greatest
level of biodiversity. Towards the south, the vast pastures of
La Serena enhance the jagged silhouette of the mountain range
that emerges from the peneplain.
The surface area is of 42,600 hectares, including the municipal
districts of Orellana la Vieja, Orellana de la Sierra, Acedera,
Navalvilla de Pela, Casas de Don Pedro, Talarrubas, Puebla de
Alcocer, Esparragosa de Lares and Campanario .
The Sierra de Hornachos Special Conservation
Area
Is one of the mountainous enclaves that are dotted around the
region of Tierra de Barros, situated behind Hornachos and built
on the side of one of its hillsides with a privileged location.
The central position of the sierra in the region makes its waters
flow into various rivers such as the Marachel, Guadamez and Palomillas,
which start from the run-off water of these valleys. Towards the
Southeast there is a border with the Los Molinos Reservoir with
very flat land and nearly void of trees, where dry cultivation
predominate. To the Northeast its borders are more abrupt, bordering
with other mountainous formations such as la Sierra de la Pedriza.
Towards the South the region of Campaña sur extends out,
dotted with extensive fields of dry cultivation.
This is the most meridional of the central sierra, forming part
of the set of important mountains that start in Sierra de Arroyo,
continue through la Sierra de Peñas Blancas and end in
la Hornachos, giving rise to a grandiose corridor that emerges
in the surrounding plains.
The protected space has an area of 12,190 ha all within the municipal
territory of Hornachos.
The basin of the Alcarrache River
Occupies approximately 80km.2 and extends from its source in the
mountainous formations of Sierra Brava and Sierra de Santa María,
in the proximity of Barcarrota and Salvaleón, until the
south of Villanueva del Fresno, where it abandons Extremadura.
The last part of the river passes through Portugal, to empty into
the Guadiana River to the south of Mourão.
Throughout its 59km. of trajectory, its banks cross the municipal
districts of Barcarrota, Olivenza, Alconchel, Higuera de Vargas,
Villanueva del Fresno and Jerez de los Caballeros .
Badajoz guide