Despeñaperros Nature Reserve

The famous defile of Despeñaperros, with walls that are virtually vertical, is the product of the waters of the river with the same name.

The Despeñaperros Nature Reserve is situated to the north of the province of Jaén. It covers a total of 7,840 hectares, belonging to the township of Santa Elena, which sketch a natural pass from the Castilian meseta, through the famous defile. And the result of the action of the waters of the River Despeñaperros, which flows transversally to the mountain range of Sierra Morena and which flows into the River Guarrizas. Thus, the area surprises us with walls that are practically vertical and with delightful spots, such as 'Los Órganos' or 'Las Correderas'. In its vegetation there are forests of alders, ashes and willows, holm oaks, cork oaks, gall oaks, oaks, umbrella pines, Kermes oaks and Maritime pines. The shrubs are basically, strawberry trees, heather, rockrose, myrtle and Kermes oak.