Natural Park, Garganta Verde and its Hermitage

Zahara is the last town nestled in the most outstanding western massif of the Cordilleras Beticas. Of limestone nature, it is also the highest and steepest mountainous group of the province of Cadiz, reaching in the peak of the Torreón, in the Sierra del Pinar, its highest height, 1654 mts. Its municipal district, declared Natural Park by the Junta de Andalucía in 1984, contains areas of great natural interest. From the geomorphological point of view we can highlight the Garganta Verde E, where we can find the famous "Ermita de la Garganta"- grotto formed by the action of geological agents, and worth admiring (see routes of interest) and the Garganta Seca, surprising cracks carved into the ground by the continuous passage of water. The pinsapar, forest formation of Mediterranean firs unique in the world, the pinsapo (Abies pinsapo) is a relic of the Quaternary, which is manifested in its fullness. Along with this wealth of vegetation, the fauna is richly represented. We can highlight in the mountains of Zahara the presence of the mountain goat (Capra pyrenaica), the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Also worth mentioning is the great variety of birds that fly over these mountains, the most emblematic being the imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), which flies over our skies as a home range and the resident golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). Other smaller birds of prey are the Bonelli's eagle, the peregrine falcon, the sparrow hawk and the Egyptian vulture among many others, without forgetting that one of the largest colonies of griffon vultures in Europe is in our area (green gorge).