Bardenas Reales facts for kids

The Bardenas Reales is a special natural area in Navarre, Spain. It's like a semi-desert or "badlands" because of its dry, unique landscape. This amazing place covers about 42,000 hectares (that's about 103,784 acres!). The ground here is made of clay, chalk, and sandstone. Over many years, wind and water have slowly worn away these soils. This process, called erosion, has created incredible shapes. You can see deep canyons, flat-topped hills called plateaus, and even isolated hills that look like small mountains. Bardenas Reales doesn't have many towns or cities, and plants are quite rare here.

Where is Bardenas Reales Located?

The Bardenas Reales is found in the southeast part of Navarre, right next to the border of Aragon. It sits in the middle of the Ebro valley, near the Yugo mountains and the Cinco Villas region of Zaragoza.

Size and Shape of the Area

This natural park stretches about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from north to south. It is also about 24 kilometers (15 miles) wide from east to west. The land here ranges in height from 280 meters (919 feet) to 659 meters (2,162 feet) above sea level. The total area of Bardenas Reales is about 41,845 hectares (103,390 acres).

Local Towns and Regions

The Bardenas Reales is surrounded by sixteen different towns and regions. Thirteen of these are in Navarre, and three are in the province of Zaragoza. This shows how important this natural area is to the local communities.

Unique Landscapes of Bardenas Reales

The Bardenas Reales is famous for its unusual and beautiful landscapes. The constant work of wind and water has shaped the soft rocks into amazing forms.

What are Badlands?

The term "badlands" describes dry areas where soft rocks have been heavily eroded. This creates a landscape with deep gullies, sharp ridges, and tall, isolated hills. The Bardenas Reales is a perfect example of this type of land.

Famous Rock Formations

One of the most famous sights is the Cabezo Castildetierra. This is a tall, slender pillar of rock with a cap on top, formed by erosion. It looks like a natural sculpture. You can also see many "cabezos," which are isolated, rounded hills that stand alone in the landscape. These formations tell a story of millions of years of natural forces at work.

Gallery

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  The White Bardena, a lighter part of the landscape

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  The famous Cabezo Castildetierra

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  A "cabezo" or isolated hill

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  Another view of Cabezo Castildetierra

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  Deep gullies formed by water erosion

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  Ravines carved into the landscape

Images for kids

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  A U.S. Air Force plane releasing bombs over the Bardenas Reales Gunnery Range in 1986. This area was once used for military training.

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  A demonstration in Tudela against the Bardenas Reales bombing range in 2008. People wanted the military training to stop to protect the natural area.

See also

In Spanish: Bardenas Reales para niños