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| Parque Natural de la Caldera de Taburiente | |
|---|---|
| Name | Caldera de Taburiente Natural Park |
| Location | La Palma (island), Canary Islands |
| Area | 4,700 ha |
| Established | 1954 |
| Governing body | Cabildo de La Palma |
| Coordinates | 28°45′N 17°53′W |
Parque Natural de la Caldera de Taburiente
The Caldera de Taburiente Natural Park on La Palma (island) in the Canary Islands is a large erosional depression surrounded by steep cliffs and a high plateau, designated for protection in 1954 and later included in Parque Nacional de Canarias-related networks. The site attracts scientific interest from institutions such as the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain), Universidad de La Laguna, Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos and conservation organizations including Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura-linked programs. Administratively managed by the Cabildo de La Palma, it lies near municipalities like Los Llanos de Aridane and Santa Cruz de La Palma and interconnects with regional designations such as the Red Natura 2000 and Biosphere Reserve frameworks.
The caldera occupies central La Palma, framed by landmarks like Roque de los Muchachos, Pico de la Cruz, Montaña de las Nieves and the rim towns of El Paso (La Palma) and Tazacorte. Scientific surveys by groups including Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Consejería de Medio Ambiente de Canarias and researchers from Universidad Complutense de Madrid have documented its geomorphology, hydrology and endemic biota. Cultural stakeholders such as the Patronato de Turismo de La Palma, Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid exchanges and local ensembles like Banda Municipal de Música de Santa Cruz de La Palma contribute to interpretation and outreach. International collaborations with entities such as the European Environment Agency and World Wildlife Fund affiliates have supported monitoring and education initiatives.
The caldera is an erosional basin carved into Cumbre Vieja-related volcanic structures and older shield volcano formations attributed to successive stages of the Volcanic Canary Islands genesis, studied by teams from Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias, Smithsonian Institution volcanology programs and the Geological Society of London. Stratigraphic mapping references units correlated with Miocene to Holocene sequences, and lithologies include basalts, phonolites and pyroclastic deposits cataloged by Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. The steep amphitheater rim features escarpments like Los Andenes, radial ravines such as Barranco de las Angustias and drainage networks feeding springs historically used by settlements including Las Manchas (La Palma). Topographic prominence of Roque de los Muchachos provides instrumental sites for observatories including the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, which hosts facilities by organizations like the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands, European Southern Observatory collaborators and universities including University of Cambridge and Max Planck Society partners for atmospheric and geological monitoring.
The park contains montane forests dominated by Pinus canariensis stands, endemic laurel wood remnants linked to the Macaronesia hotspot and shrublands with species cataloged by botanists at institutions such as Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Jardín Botánico Canario Viera y Clavijo. Faunal inventories include endemics like the Lagartija de La Palma and invertebrates studied by researchers from Natural History Museum, London and Museo de Historia Natural de La Palma, alongside avifauna recorded by organizations such as SEO/BirdLife and BirdLife International. Conservation genetics projects at Universidad de La Laguna and Universidad de Oviedo address populations of Canary Islands chiffchaff-related taxa and endangered plants assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Hydrological springs and microclimates support bryophyte assemblages highlighted in collaborations with Royal Society-affiliated researchers and regional herbaria.
Human interaction dates to Guanches-era occupation inferred from archaeological surveys coordinated with Museo Arqueológico Benahorita methodologies and later colonial-era land use under influences from the Crown of Castile and merchants linking La Palma with ports such as Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Historical cartography by the Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain) and travel accounts by figures associated with the Royal Geographic Society and explorers visiting the Canary Islands informed early scientific interest. Cultural expressions by local artists exhibited at venues like Casa de la Cultura de El Paso and festivals such as Fiestas Lustrales de La Palma reference the caldera as symbolic landscape, while conservation policy dialogues have involved the Consejería de Cultura y Patrimonio Histórico and heritage registers maintained by Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte (Spain).
The park offers trails managed by the Parque Rural de Teno-style regional frameworks and signage coordinated with the Patronato de Turismo de La Palma and Cabildo de La Palma visitor centers; routes include ascents to Roque de los Muchachos and descents via Barranco de las Angustias. Accommodations and services in nearby towns such as Los Llanos de Aridane and Santa Cruz de La Palma support ecotourism operators registered with the Asociación de Empresas de Turismo de La Palma and guides certified under programs by Instituto Canario de Turismo. Educational programs link to curricula at Universidad de La Laguna, outreach by Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos and volunteer initiatives organized with SEO/BirdLife and WWF España affiliates. Restrictions on camping and access coordinate with emergency services like Servicio de Emergencias Canarias and park rangers employed by the Cabildo de La Palma.
Management plans involve stakeholders including the Consejería de Transición Ecológica del Gobierno de Canarias, European Commission Natura policy advisors and research partnerships with CSIC and international institutions such as Universität Göttingen and University of Oxford. Threats assessed by environmental assessments include invasive species monitored by Sociedad Española de Ornitología, fire risk strategies developed with Brigada de Refuerzo en Incendios Forestales protocols and visitor impact mitigations consistent with Red Natura 2000 guidance. Restoration projects for native vegetation have engaged Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid ex situ collections and genetic rescue collaborations with universities and NGOs including Fundación Biodiversidad and Global Environment Facility-linked programs. Ongoing monitoring employs remote sensing from platforms used by European Space Agency research groups and climatological datasets integrated with AEMET analyses to inform adaptive management by the Cabildo de La Palma.
Category:Protected areas of the Canary Islands