Tagus International Natural Park is made up of two protected natural spaces with identical characteristics but with different management, one in the province of Cáceres as the Autonomous Community of Extremadura in Spain, and the other in the district of Castelo Branco in the Central Region of Portugal
The Park covers an area where the Tagus River constitutes the border between Portugal and Spain. The park under Portuguese administration occupies an area of 26,484 hectares and encompasses parts of the municipalities of Castelo Branco, Idanha-a-Nova, Vila Velha de Ródão and Nisa.
The border section of the Tagus International, like the valleys and adjoining areas, is one of the most unpopulated and least frequented areas of Portugal.
The valleys of the Tagus and Erges rivers have a wild character that gives them considerable scenic value; on certain slopes, escarpment-shaped outcrops rise, forming true rocky gorges like Segura.
The geological substrate is predominantly schist and supports an interesting set of floristic species (plants) characteristic of southern landscapes, namely cork oak and holm oak forests, areas of dense olive groves with terraces, cereal steppes, in less fertile lands rockrose dominates.
The Park features typical Mediterranean vegetation such as forests of cork oaks and holm oaks and galleries of willows (Salix sp.) along the rivers.
The Tagus International Natural Park, with 26,490.43 ha, is an extremely important area for the conservation of several species of birds that nest on the steep banks of rivers and surrounding areas.
In this area, the most important species stand out: the imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), the golden eagle (A. chrysaetos), the Bonelli's eagle (A. fasciata), the black vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), the black stork (Ciconia nigra, symbol of the park), the black vulture (Oenanthe leucura) and the red kite (Milvus milvus).
The place is an important nesting area for birds such as Bonelli's eagle, golden eagle, vulture and Egyptian vulture, and is home to populations of black storks, a rare species in Portugal.
Mammals in the park include the European otter, wild cat, red deer and genet.
On the Spanish side known as Parque Natural del Tajo Internacional, which comprises (totally or partially) 11 municipalities: Alcántara, Brozas, Carbajo, Cedillo, Herrera de Alcántara, Membrío, Salorino, Herreruela, Santiago de Alcántara, Valencia de Alcántara and Zarza la Mayor.
The Tagus International Natural Park was declared a transboundary biosphere reserve site by UNESCO in 2016.
The border section of the Tagus International, like the valleys and adjoining areas, is one of the most unpopulated and least frequented areas of Portugal.
The valleys of the Tagus and Erges rivers have a wild character that gives them considerable scenic value; on certain slopes, escarpment-shaped outcrops rise, forming true rocky gorges like Segura.
The geological substrate is predominantly schist and supports an interesting set of floristic species (plants) characteristic of southern landscapes, namely cork oak and holm oak forests, areas of dense olive groves with terraces, cereal steppes, in less fertile lands rockrose dominates.
The Park features typical Mediterranean vegetation such as forests of cork oaks and holm oaks and galleries of willows (Salix sp.) along the rivers.
The Tagus International Natural Park, with 26,490.43 ha, is an extremely important area for the conservation of several species of birds that nest on the steep banks of rivers and surrounding areas.
In this area, the most important species stand out: the imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti), the golden eagle (A. chrysaetos), the Bonelli's eagle (A. fasciata), the black vulture (Aegypius monachus), the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), the black stork (Ciconia nigra, symbol of the park), the black vulture (Oenanthe leucura) and the red kite (Milvus milvus).
The place is an important nesting area for birds such as Bonelli's eagle, golden eagle, vulture and Egyptian vulture, and is home to populations of black storks, a rare species in Portugal.
Mammals in the park include the European otter, wild cat, red deer and genet.
On the Spanish side known as Parque Natural del Tajo Internacional, which comprises (totally or partially) 11 municipalities: Alcántara, Brozas, Carbajo, Cedillo, Herrera de Alcántara, Membrío, Salorino, Herreruela, Santiago de Alcántara, Valencia de Alcántara and Zarza la Mayor.
The Tagus International Natural Park was declared a transboundary biosphere reserve site by UNESCO in 2016.
