Izki National Park

• Founded: It was declared a National Park on May 4, 1998.
• Surface Area: 9,143 hectares.
• Consists of the following towns: Apellániz, Antoñana, Atauri, Arluzea, Korres, San Román Campezo, Maestu, Marquínez, Quintana, Urarte, Urturi, and Vírgala.
• How to get there: One of the main ways to get there from Vitoria-Gasteiz is by taking highway A-132 that goes through Azazeta Pass heading towards Maestu. You can also get there by taking highway A-126 heading towards Bernedo.
• Altitude: The park?s highest peak is Mount Kapildui which is 1,175m high and the lowest is Bujanda at 600m high.

With over 9,143 hectares of land, Izki National Park has diverse landscapes. It is the third largest park in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country. It is shaped like an enormous bowl surrounded by limestone mountains, some of which have large crags like la Muela de San Román de Campezo and el Soila. From these peaks and others like San Justi, San Cristóbal, and Kapildui you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views.

Izki is basically rock and forest. Mainly Pyrenean oaks (it has one of the largest stands of turkey oaks or Pyrenean oaks in Europe), but also has beech trees, Carrascan Holm oaks, European alders, Portuguese oaks, mixed forests, downy birches, European aspen, oak groves? cover most of this nature area. On the Soila slope you will find two examples of European yew (Taxus baccata) and large leaved lime (Tilia platyphylos) that are protected as ?Singular Trees? for different reasons.

Small rivers like the Izki, Molino, and Berron slice through the valley. In some areas water surfaces making ponds, marshes, and incipient peat bogs. In these wetlands, apart from the interesting amphibians and birds (little grebe, great crested grebe?), you will find valuable plant life such as the European white water lily and a rich variety of carnivorous plants.

Soaring high in the sky above the treetops are the sleek bodies of the golden eagle, Peregrine falcon, Egyptian vulture, and vulture that rest and raise their young on the majestic limestone passes of the Izki peaks.

The large pastures in the highlands where the cattle, horses, and sheep feed show man?s presence with the medieval town of Korres, the only inhabited town inside the Park.

Izki has a wide variety of wildlife. The middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus medius) is the most representative specie of the park. The Pyrenean oaks of Izki National Park are home to the largest population of this small woodpecker in Spain. There are over 151 species of vertebrates in the park (Montagu?s harrier, honey buzzard, wild boar, fox, badger, agile frog, European kingfisher?).

There are 15 hikes or paths that are marked inside the Park where you can enjoy the park's plant life and wildlife. The Park?s Information Center is located in Korres, the only town inside the Park that has preserved its medieval layout of narrow streets, the natural moat formed by the river, and its bridge. There you will find all kinds of information and materials about the park (hikes, rules?).

For more information about the Park, contact the center in Korres at:

• Tel/Fax: 945410502.
• Email: parqueizki@parquesalava.net