Arrabida Natural Park, Portugal
April 06, 2013
Photographer: Nuno Lopes; Nuno's Web site
Summary Author: Nuno Lopes
The photo above shows a portion of the Arrabida Mountains in the Arrabida Natural Park of Portugal. This scenic park boasts ancient Mediterranean forests, extensive limestone terracing and an impressive 22 mi (35 km) coastline -- some of the best beaches in Portugal are found here. The Arrabida was declared a Natural Park in 1976 to protect the endangered species indigenous to this area. A patient visitor might spot wildcats, weasels, Bonelli's eagles, and Eurasian Eagle owl, among the many birds and animals that call the park home. Mediterranean forest species include holm-oak, arbutus tree, laurel and wild olive. The Arrabida area has been occupied by humans since the Palaeolithic. Arrabida Natural Park is now an official candidate for a UNESCO World Heritage site. Photo taken on February 10, 2013.
Photo details: Camera Model: Canon EOS 550D; Focal Length: 18mm; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure Time: 0.0063 s (1/160); ISO equiv: 200; Software: Adobe Photoshop CS6.