Pixtal/age fotostock
Irati Forest, Navarra, Spain
When you think of Spain, are visions of sunny beaches the first thing that comes to your mind? Would you be surprised to know that even though there is plenty of sun and surf in Spain, almost 37 percent of the country’s total land area is made up of forests? One of the most spectacular of these is the Irati Forest in the western Pyrenees of Navarra.
The Irati Forest is the second-largest forest in Europe. Filled with oak, beech, chestnut, eucalyptus, and fir trees, and inhabited by all kinds of birds, foxes, wild boars, and deer, this is the ideal location for anyone looking for peace and quiet and a chance to “commune with nature.” The relaxing sounds of the Irati River are complemented by the sounds of woodpeckers and other forest birds, providing a relaxing retreat for the senses.
The forest provides year-round opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Depending on the season, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are all enjoyed here. Picture the forest wrapped in immaculate, white snow in the winter, filled with freshness and the songs of birds in the spring and summer, or enveloped in color and covered by a blanket of crunchy leaves in the fall, and you can easily imagine the charm of the Irati Forest.
Explore More:
Ernest Hemingway wrote about the Irati River in two of his classics. Do a bit of research to discover which of Hemingway’s novels refer to this river.
Share What You Know:
1. Look at the map above and see if from the information provided in the article you can determine approximately where the Irati Forest is.
2. The article mentions that 37 percent of Spain’s land area is covered by forests. Do you think that this figure is smaller than or greater than the percentage of land in the United States covered by forests?