Here is a list of the 10 most wild and evocative natural parks in the world. From Europe to South America, a good excuse to breathe, but also to stop and reflect on the fragile and precious nature of the planet.
Ruidera Lakes, Spain
Along the Guadiana Viejo Valley there are 16 streams surrounded by a karst landscape. In this environment of Albacete and Ciudad Real there is also the Cave of Montesinos, a cavity 18 meters deep dug in the reddish magnesium limestone, which also appears in Cervantes’ masterpiece, Don Quixote .
Andia, Spain
The forests of Navarre have a name: Urbasa-Andía. These two mountain ranges come together through pastures and dense beech woods to create a bucolic setting full of charm. Here you can visit the source of the Urederra River, with its lagoon of turquoise waters.
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Sixteen lakes at different altitudes make Plitvice Lakes National Park a water paradise. Located in the Croatian region of Lika, in this natural space of 30,000 hectares, beeches, firs and pines cohabit with brown bears, wolves and eagles, among other species.
Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
Considered the largest national park in Europe, Vatnajökull National Park includes two other parks, Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur, where rivers, glaciers and volcanoes form a postcard backdrop. Here you can walk on the Vatnajökull Glacier or visit the Blue Ice Cave.
Goreme National Park, Türkiye
The famous image of balloons in the sky above eroded rock formations comes from here, from the famous fairy chimneys of the Devrent Valley in northern Cappadocia. This natural park, declared a World Heritage Site, is also home to troglodyte sanctuaries, dwellings and troglodyte villages dating from the 4th century.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Considered one of the most famous and important in Africa, this protected wilderness area is Tanzania’s main tourist attraction, as it is home to a large number of wildlife, including the Big Five, the five large African mammals : lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo.
Serrania de la Macarena National Park, Colombia
The Macarena mountain range is the meeting point of three of Colombia’s main natural areas: Andean, Amazonian and Orinoco. The Serranía de la Macarena National Natural Park includes this space where there are ecosystems such as the rainforest, the flooded forest or the Amazon savannah.
It is best known for the Caño Cristales, a river with many names: the river of the gods, the river of seven colors or even the melting rainbow. What is the reason for these curious names? This is an optical effect, as its aquatic plants change color in the sun.
Los Nevados National Park, Colombia
This park is located in the central cordillera of the Andes and occupies an area distributed in several Colombian municipalities such as Pereira, Murillo and Ibagué.
Los Nevados National Park is home to some of Colombia’s most prominent peaks, such as Nevado del Ruiz, Nevado del Tolima, and Nevado de Santa Isabel. It is one of the largest volcanic complexes in the country, with six stratovolcanoes reaching an altitude of 4,600 meters.
Iguazu, Argentina
Although it shares part with neighboring Brazil, the World Heritage-listed Iguazú National Park is entirely within Argentine territory. These waterfalls are also considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world due to their richness in landscapes, ecosystems, fauna and flora.
Perito Moreno, Argentina
Perito Moreno lends its name to one of Argentina’s most iconic glaciers (and national park). This gigantic mass of ice is visible from different points of view that delight photography enthusiasts. Its environment is distinguished by an ecosystem marked by biodiversity, with many species of native flora and fauna.
