🌿 Nature of Ferrolterra
Atlantic forest, record-breaking cliffs, rías and wetlands of international importance. This is what grows, flies and swims in Ferrolterra — and why.
🌳 The Atlantic forest and native trees
The fraga (Atlantic deciduous forest) is the emblematic ecosystem, with the Fragas do Eume as its jewel. Native species include:
- Carballo (oak) — the king of the Galician forest.
- Castiñeiro (chestnut), bidueiro (birch), ameneiro (alder) and salgueiro (willow) along the rivers.
- Freixo (ash), pradairo (maple), abeleira (hazel), acivro (holly), loureiro (laurel) and érbedo (strawberry tree).
🌾 Heath, dunes and flora
Beyond the forest the heath takes over: toxo (gorse), xesta (broom) and heather, which turn the hills yellow and purple. On the dunes of Pantín, Frouxeira or Doniños grow sand-binding species, many of them protected.
🦡 Wildlife: mammals and wild horses
In rivers and forests: otter, wild boar, roe deer, badger, fox and red squirrel. On the Serra da Capelada live the famous wild horses (bestas) of the rapa das bestas.
🐦 Birds: the Frouxeira and the cliffs
The Frouxeira lagoon (Valdoviño) is a Ramsar wetland and SPA: thousands of waterbirds and migrants. The Kentish plover nests here — which is why dogs are banned on some beaches. On the Herbeira and Ortegal cliffs: peregrine falcon, shag and large gull colonies.
🌊 The sea and the rías
The rías yield mussels, clams, cockles, velvet crab, spider crab and, on the cliffs, gooseneck barnacles. Dolphins appear offshore. It's an economy and a larder: shellfishing is part of comarca life.
⛰ Geology and soils
The bedrock is granite and slate. At Cabo Ortegal, ultramafic rocks among the oldest and most unusual in Europe surface. The soils are acidic and brown, rich in organic matter from the wet climate — which is why grelos, potatoes and chestnuts thrive, and the land suits meadow and forest.
🌍 UNESCO Global Geopark
Since 2023, Cabo Ortegal is a UNESCO Global Geopark: the only one on the Iberian Peninsula recognised that year, and the second in Galicia. It spans the Ferrolterra and Ortegal coast. Its treasure is rock that rose from the depths of the Earth almost 400 million years ago, a witness to the collision that formed Pangaea; it's one of the few places on Earth where mantle rock surfaces. More at xeoparquecaboortegal.gal.
🪓 Invasive species
Eucalyptus, acacia/mimosa and pampas grass displace the native forest and raise the wildfire risk. Recognising them and not planting them helps preserve the fraga.
🏞 Protected areas
Fragas do Eume Natural Park · Valdoviño lagoon (Frouxeira, Ramsar) · Costa Ártabra and Serra da Capelada (Natura 2000) · Cabo Ortegal. Visit with respect: in protected areas, keep to the paths and the rules.