It was a very pleasant ride up the entire length of the Saliencia Valley to the parking at the top. There were a number of walks to the lakes, but we took one of the shorter, as there was a step up in length to get to the lake after the one we stopped at. Again perfect conditions for walking. We had our tapas on a spot overlooking Lake Calabazosa, before re-tracing our steps back to the car
Saliencia Lakes are a pocket of post-glacial lakes in the Somiedo Natural Park. Calabazosa (or Black Lake), Cerveriz, Almagrera Lagoon (or La Mina), and Lago de la Cueva. Lago del Valle, at 1,550 m above sea level, is the largest in the group and is Asturia's largest lake.
Fauna in the lake valley includes the Eurasian brown bear, Otter, Egyptian vulture and Golden eagle. The majority of amphibians inside the park are found by these lakes, including Alpine newt, Palmate newt, Fire salamander, common toad, Common midwife toad, Common frog, and the Iberian frog. The lakes are protected space within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of Somiedo Natural Park, declared a natural monument in 2003.
An iron mine operated here from 1805 to 1978. And the path is red from the iron ore in the ground. The mine entrances have been closed off, but are visible.
Click on a thumbnail photo to get a larger one
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |