Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz facts for kids
The Green Belt of Vitoria-Gasteiz is a special collection of parks around the city. These parks are super important for nature and are connected by paths for walking and having fun. It's like a big green ring that goes all the way around Vitoria-Gasteiz. This amazing project started in the early 1990s. It was even chosen by the UN as one of the top 100 best projects in the world for making cities better! That happened in Dubai in the year 2000. Right now, the Green Belt has five main parks: Armentia, Olarizu, Salburua, Zabalgana, and Zadorra.
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How the Green Belt Started
The idea for the Green Belt came about in the early 1990s. The city of Vitoria-Gasteiz wanted to fix problems in the areas just outside the city. These areas were often messy or not well cared for.
When the project began, some parts outside the city were beautiful natural spots, like the forests of Zabalgana and Armentia. Even though they had problems like erosion, they had survived the city's growth. But other areas were old gravel pits or dumps. These bad spots were a threat to the fragile natural places. The outskirts of the city weren't safe or nice for people to visit. They felt like a wall between the city and the countryside.
To solve these problems, the Environmental Studies Center of Vitoria-Gasteiz decided to start a huge project. They wanted to improve all the areas around the city. Their goal was to create a network of green spaces around Vitoria-Gasteiz. This idea also fit with the city's plan from 1986, which wanted to add more green areas to the city's edges.
Exploring the Green Belt Parks
Alegria River Park
The Alegria River flows between the Zadorra River and the Salburua wetlands. This river and its banks are a key natural pathway. They help animals like the European mink move between these two important ecosystems. It's also a great place for fun activities. This park connects the Salburua park with the future Zadorra river park near Gamarra.
Armentia Forest Park
Armentia is a big, natural oak forest. It sits between the city and the Vitoria Mountains. These mountains are a main range and one of the most valuable natural spots in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Because of where it is, Armentia Forest acts like a natural bridge. It connects the city's green areas with the wilder parts of the municipality. This connection is what makes Armentia Park so important.
Olarizu Park
Olarizu Park has open fields, scattered trees, and the famous Olárizu mountain. Many paths run through the park, linking the city to nearby towns. This makes Olarizu a very popular place for walking or just relaxing in special areas. Unlike other Green Belt parks, Olarizu Park feels more like a city park. It was designed this way from the start. It joined the Green Belt in the mid-1990s. Since then, it's been set up mainly for public use. It also helps with training and learning about the environment. The park also includes the Botanical Garden Olárizu.
Salburua Wetlands
Salburua is a wetland area with several lakes. Arcaute and Betoño are the two main lakes. It also has grassy areas and a small oak forest. Centuries ago, the lakes were drained to create farmland. But restoration work began in 1994 to bring them back. Now, Salburua is one of the most valuable inland wetlands in the Basque Country. It's even recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. You can explore the park on different paths that go around and connect the main lakes. There's also the 'Interpretation Centre ATARIA' and two spots to watch birds.
Zabalgana Park
Zabalgana Park is a great example of how a damaged area can be fixed. It used to be old gravel pits, which were very degraded. But now, it's a natural area perfect for people to relax and have fun. In Zabalgana Park, you'll find a mix of meadows, small groups of trees, ponds, and gentle hills. There are also places to sit, walking trails, and natural forest gall. It's like a forest island surrounded by fields of crops.
Zadorra River Park
The Zadorra River flows along the northern edge of the city. It acts as a natural boundary for the city's growth. The Zadorra River has important natural features. Because of this, it's been named a Site of Community Interest (SCI) within Europe's Natura 2000 Network. The Zadorra and its surroundings are perfect for walks. Soon, there will be a large river park here. It will be 13 kilometers long and cover 213 hectares. This park will be a key connection in the Green Ring. It will link to the Salburua and Zabalgana wetlands.
Future Plans for the Green Belt
Errekaleor Park
The future Errekaleor Park will be located between Olarizu Park to the south and the Salburua wetlands to the north. It's part of the new Salburua residential area. Its location makes it an important link between the Green Belt parks in the south and east of the city. The Errekaleor River will help connect these natural areas. Also, the Cerro de Las Neveras hill, which offers great views, will become part of the Green Belt as a walking path. This new design for Errekaleor will add 28 hectares to the Green Ring.
Why the Green Belt is Important
The Green Belt has several important goals:
- To protect natural places and fix other damaged areas around the city. This creates a continuous natural space around Vitoria-Gasteiz.
- To connect the parks on the city's edge with the city itself and with nature. This makes it easier and safer to get to green areas.
- To make the outskirts of the city better for people to use. This helps meet the public's need for outdoor fun. It also takes pressure off other delicate natural areas.
- To use these restored spaces to teach people about the environment. The goal is to get citizens involved in protecting nature.
Keeping the Green Belt Beautiful
There's a team that works all the time to keep the Green Belt in good shape. They look after the plants in the parks. This includes mowing grass, watering, digging, fertilizing, pruning, and replacing dead plants. They also plant new seeds and plants.
Another team takes care of the equipment and signs in the Green Belt. They make sure everything is in the best possible condition. They also repair or replace anything that gets damaged from normal use, accidents, or vandalism.
The overall care of the Green Belt also includes a cleaning service. This team clears riverbanks after floods. They also remove trash and graffiti from signs and equipment.
See also
In Spanish: Anillo Verde de Vitoria para niños
- Vitoria-Gasteiz
- Álava
- Park of Armentia
