Somiedo, a natural and cultural treasure in the heart of Asturias
The municipality of Somiedo, located in southern Asturias, is a natural paradise bordered to the north by Belmonte de Miranda, to the east by Teverga, and to the west by Cangas de Narcea and Tineo. Its southern border extends to the León regions of La Babia and Laciana, following the watershed of the Cantabrian Mountains. Covering almost 30,000 hectares, Somiedo is known for its mountainous terrain, with altitudes ranging from 400 meters in the north to over 2,100 meters on its southern border.
A Protected Natural Paradise
En 1988, the Somiedo Natural Park was declared a protected area, being the first natural space to be designated as such in Asturias. Since 2000, Somiedo has also been a Biosphere Reserve according to UNESCO, highlighting its ecological value and unique biodiversity. The park is known for its rugged landscapes, shaped by glaciers during the last ice age, and today is covered by a plant mosaic dominated by beech and oak forests.One of the main attractions of Somiedo is its population of Brown Bears, one of the most significant in Western Europe. This environment hosts a wide variety of animal and plant species native to the Cantabrian Mountains.