Laurel forest covers some 70% of this park, situated in the middle of the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands archipelago. The presence of springs and numerous streams assures a lush vegetation resembling that of the Tertiary, which, due to climatic changes, has largely disappeared from southern Europe.
Attractions:
Garajonay provides the best example of laurisilva, a humid subtropical forest that in the Tertiary covered almost all of Europe. Laurus azorica, known as Azores Laurel, or by the Portuguese names Louro, Loureiro, Louro-da-terra, and Louro-de-cheiro, can be found in the park, as well as Laurus canariensis, known as Canary Laurel.
The forests are made up of laurel-leaved evergreen hardwood trees, reaching up to 40 metres in height. Many of the species are endemic to the islands, and harbor a rich biota of understory plants, invertebrates, and birds and bats, including a number of endemic species.
Two species of reptile, Gallotia gomerana (Gomeran lizard) and Chalcides viridanus (Gomeran skink), can be found. Amphibians include the stripeless tree frog, Hyla meridionalis.
The park is also renowned as one of the best places to observe the two Canarian endemic pigeons, Laurel Pigeon and Bolle's Pigeon.
Where to stay?
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocalMaps-g187469-d190911-Garajonay_National_Park-Area.html
http://la-gomera.costasur.com/en/accommodation.html
Official Website:
http://la-gomera.costasur.com/en/garajonay.html
Garajonay National Park:
Processing your request, Please wait....
Have any ideas? New places to visit near by? Please share now in comments.
