![[-]](https://fuerteventura.click/images/collapse.png "[-]")
10-06-2023, 07:58 PM
Radio Sintonia:
Cardón Mountain, a Natural Monument with a fragile landscape.
The Natural Monument of Montaña de Cardón stands out for its shape, and for the impressive height in a "flat" territory such as the island of Fuerteventura. It is not the highest of the island but its situation influences this landscape quality that in certain points is seriously affected by human activity.
Important are also the plant communities found in this Protected Natural Area, and the species with special protection, both flora and fauna, which are located in the high areas and slopes.
A landscape little contrasted
In general, the landscape formed by the Natural Monument of Montaña Cardón is little contrasted in terms of color and texture (few surface variations). However, it is necessary to consider the high areas of the ENP as sensitive to the extent that the topography of the island of Fuerteventura does not mask the impressive actions that may occur in the geomorphological elements that reach a considerable height. The formation of Montaña Cardón, one of the highest on the island, is visible in a very different way from the different visual corridors, which is why the fragility of the landscape that it forms is variable.
It is a landscape that in some areas is quite anthropized. There are areas with buildings (although this is contradictory to the definition of Natural Monument), areas that have been used for crops, livestock areas and even pilgrimage areas.
The Natural Monument can be divided into 4 landscape units (areas of homogeneous visual response, both in their landscape components and in their visual response to possible actions). Each of them is described below, which are also included in the cartography.
Anthropized landscape. Impaired visual quality
Formed by the lowest levels of the eastern edge. The main landscape condition is the abandoned greenhouses, which have not been uninstalled. Nor have their plastics or meshes, nor other related materials been removed, and the strong wind prevailing in the area has been dragging them, causing "dumping points". The existing houses are in different states of conservation. Only some of them are abandoned and deteriorated externally.
Each of these houses, greenhouses or plots of cultivation (abandoned almost entirely) are communicated with the road by access tracks that currently attract visitors, causing visual affection, and opening new roads.
This area, particularly the one located further north, has a high potential as an emitter of views, since from it it is possible to observe with a unique perspective the summits of Montaña Cardón.
From the landscape point of view, it should be noted that this unit is bordered in part by the FV-618 road that is moderately used by visitors, which is why any element perceptible from this track must be subject to conservation, as far as its appearance is concerned.
The area receives the views from the highest part of the FV-618, point from which this area is best appreciated. His vision from there is that of a humanized landscape with symptoms of abandonment.
Cardon knives
They make up the most relevant image of the Protected Natural Area. They are receivers of views from numerous visual corridors and from different perspectives although those coming from the West, from the FV-605 road that leads to Pájara, stand out.
Its importance lies in the beauty of its geomorphological forms and the grandeur of its height on an island as flat as Fuerteventura. However, this last factor is attenuated by its proximity to the Betancuria massif.
It also has great importance as an emitter of views since due to its height it creates an important visual basin. It is also a high but accessible area, because the pilgrims of the Virgen del Tanquito arrive at the watchtower of El Castillo.
Western middle slopes
This unit is of a somewhat lower quality than the previous one since both the views it emits and those it receives do not present such a pronounced singularity. The quality is conferred by the scenic background of the high areas of the mountain. The Barranco de Chilegua is a landscape element of relevance, but only in a potential way, since at present it appears totally dry, making the existing reservoirs in the area remain as merely testimonial elements.
It is a less anthropized area than the eastern slopes, at least as far as housing construction is concerned; however, the panoramic view from the East is more attractive because it is a greater slope. From the West, the softness of the slopes transmits a sense of remoteness to the Cardón knives that detracts from its visual value.
Degraded southern slope.
The landscape of this area is far from being perceived as a natural landscape, from a "green" space.
On the contrary, the view we get from it, is damaged by the existence of buildings not integrated landscaping and with inappropriate ornamental vegetation. In addition there are installations of water pipes perfectly visible from the road that have been placed in the area without following a logical criterion, and that negatively affect the landscape.
The visual basin from the road that limits this unit is quite closed towards the interior of Cardón. To the south, outside the ENP is somewhat wider.
Fountain: Government of the Canary Islands Ministry of Environment and Territorial Planning/ Vice-Ministry of Territorial Planning/ General Directorate of Territorial Planning.
link to article for spectacular pic
Cardón Mountain, a Natural Monument with a fragile landscape.
The Natural Monument of Montaña de Cardón stands out for its shape, and for the impressive height in a "flat" territory such as the island of Fuerteventura. It is not the highest of the island but its situation influences this landscape quality that in certain points is seriously affected by human activity.
Important are also the plant communities found in this Protected Natural Area, and the species with special protection, both flora and fauna, which are located in the high areas and slopes.
A landscape little contrasted
In general, the landscape formed by the Natural Monument of Montaña Cardón is little contrasted in terms of color and texture (few surface variations). However, it is necessary to consider the high areas of the ENP as sensitive to the extent that the topography of the island of Fuerteventura does not mask the impressive actions that may occur in the geomorphological elements that reach a considerable height. The formation of Montaña Cardón, one of the highest on the island, is visible in a very different way from the different visual corridors, which is why the fragility of the landscape that it forms is variable.
It is a landscape that in some areas is quite anthropized. There are areas with buildings (although this is contradictory to the definition of Natural Monument), areas that have been used for crops, livestock areas and even pilgrimage areas.
The Natural Monument can be divided into 4 landscape units (areas of homogeneous visual response, both in their landscape components and in their visual response to possible actions). Each of them is described below, which are also included in the cartography.
Anthropized landscape. Impaired visual quality
Formed by the lowest levels of the eastern edge. The main landscape condition is the abandoned greenhouses, which have not been uninstalled. Nor have their plastics or meshes, nor other related materials been removed, and the strong wind prevailing in the area has been dragging them, causing "dumping points". The existing houses are in different states of conservation. Only some of them are abandoned and deteriorated externally.
Each of these houses, greenhouses or plots of cultivation (abandoned almost entirely) are communicated with the road by access tracks that currently attract visitors, causing visual affection, and opening new roads.
This area, particularly the one located further north, has a high potential as an emitter of views, since from it it is possible to observe with a unique perspective the summits of Montaña Cardón.
From the landscape point of view, it should be noted that this unit is bordered in part by the FV-618 road that is moderately used by visitors, which is why any element perceptible from this track must be subject to conservation, as far as its appearance is concerned.
The area receives the views from the highest part of the FV-618, point from which this area is best appreciated. His vision from there is that of a humanized landscape with symptoms of abandonment.
Cardon knives
They make up the most relevant image of the Protected Natural Area. They are receivers of views from numerous visual corridors and from different perspectives although those coming from the West, from the FV-605 road that leads to Pájara, stand out.
Its importance lies in the beauty of its geomorphological forms and the grandeur of its height on an island as flat as Fuerteventura. However, this last factor is attenuated by its proximity to the Betancuria massif.
It also has great importance as an emitter of views since due to its height it creates an important visual basin. It is also a high but accessible area, because the pilgrims of the Virgen del Tanquito arrive at the watchtower of El Castillo.
Western middle slopes
This unit is of a somewhat lower quality than the previous one since both the views it emits and those it receives do not present such a pronounced singularity. The quality is conferred by the scenic background of the high areas of the mountain. The Barranco de Chilegua is a landscape element of relevance, but only in a potential way, since at present it appears totally dry, making the existing reservoirs in the area remain as merely testimonial elements.
It is a less anthropized area than the eastern slopes, at least as far as housing construction is concerned; however, the panoramic view from the East is more attractive because it is a greater slope. From the West, the softness of the slopes transmits a sense of remoteness to the Cardón knives that detracts from its visual value.
Degraded southern slope.
The landscape of this area is far from being perceived as a natural landscape, from a "green" space.
On the contrary, the view we get from it, is damaged by the existence of buildings not integrated landscaping and with inappropriate ornamental vegetation. In addition there are installations of water pipes perfectly visible from the road that have been placed in the area without following a logical criterion, and that negatively affect the landscape.
The visual basin from the road that limits this unit is quite closed towards the interior of Cardón. To the south, outside the ENP is somewhat wider.
Fountain: Government of the Canary Islands Ministry of Environment and Territorial Planning/ Vice-Ministry of Territorial Planning/ General Directorate of Territorial Planning.
link to article for spectacular pic
Living my dream