Sanabria Lake Natural Park
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Why go
- Lake Sanabria is the Iberian Peninsula’s largest glacial lake, covering 318.7 hectares and reaching 53 metres deep.
- Glacial retreat about 10,000 years ago left more than 20 mountain lakes, alongside valleys, cirques and moraines.
- The landscape rises from the lake shore at 997 metres to Peña Trevinca at 2,124 metres.
Don't miss
- Sundews and SphagnumSmall carnivorous sundews grow among Sphagnum mosses, including species hard to find elsewhere on the Iberian Peninsula.The park’s peat bogs
Shorts
Interesting facts9
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10,000 years
Some summit plants have survived in isolation since the glaciations for over 10,000 years.
Parc naturel du lac de Sanabria - Wikipedia -
The peat bogs can build compact moss layers several metres thick.
Parc naturel du lac de Sanabria - Wikipedia -
The Tera River flows into and out of the lake basin.
Parque natural Lago de Sanabria y Sierras Segundera y de Porto - Wikipedia -
The mountains mark the boundary between Atlantic and Mediterranean climates.
Parque natural Lago de Sanabria y Sierras Segundera y de Porto - Wikipedia -
125 bird
The park supports 125 bird species, including 17 daytime raptor species such as golden eagles and peregrine falcons.
Parc naturel du lac de Sanabria - Wikipedia -
190 vertebrate
More than 190 vertebrate species live in the park’s varied habitats.
Parque natural Lago de Sanabria y Sierras Segundera y de Porto - Wikipedia -
41 mammal
The park has 41 mammal species, including the Pyrenean desman and otter.
Parc naturel du lac de Sanabria - Wikipedia -
Alder, birch, hazel, rowan and holly often replace oak in cold, damp valley bottoms.
Parc naturel du lac de Sanabria - Wikipedia -
The lake, rivers and streams support seven fish species, including trout.
Parc naturel du lac de Sanabria - Wikipedia
History
The restored medieval monastery of San Martín de Castañeda once housed Cistercian monks and has served as a park interpretation centre. The park’s dominant oak, Quercus pyrenaica, is locally called carballo and was traditionally used to build homes and provide firewood.
- 1946The area received national natural-interest protection.
- 1978It became a natural park, initially covering 22,365 hectares.
- 2015It joined the Unesco-designated Meseta Ibérica cross-border biosphere reserve.
Tips for your visit
- Find Casa del Parque near Rabanillo, at the ZA-104 junction.
- Explore its permanent exhibition on geology, glacial formations, wildlife, ecosystems, human uses and conservation.
- Follow its outdoor botanical trail to see plants typical of the Lake Sanabria area.
Sources: Sanabria Lake Natural Park - Wikipedia · Ayuntamiento de Galende - Ayuntamiento · Parque natural Lago de Sanabria y Sierras Segun… · Parc naturel du lac de Sanabria - Wikipedia · checked 11 Oct 2026
- Website
- aytogalende.net/
- Phone
- +34 980 62 14 08
Plan from here: Evening walk →
Questions and answers
How large is Sanabria Lake Natural Park, and which municipalities does it cover?
It covers 32,302 hectares across Galende, Cobreros, Trefacio and Porto de Sanabria.
What wildlife lives in Sanabria Lake Natural Park?
More than 190 vertebrate species inhabit the park. Its 41 mammal species include wolves, wildcats, otters and the Pyrenean desman; its waters support seven fish species, including trout.
What woodland grows in Sanabria Lake Natural Park?
Oak woodland dominates, while alder, birch, hazel, rowan and holly often replace oak in cold, damp valley bottoms.
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