Island hopping to gods.

Rugged cliffs, snow-white beaches and a huge colony of seagulls: the Galician Atlantic Islands in the northwest of Spain are among the most spectacular national parks in Europe. Since a newspaper here the most beautiful beach in the world "voted, the burden on the environment size.

 

Vigo - Carefully manages Ramón Guimerans the sailboat by the mussel in the Ría de Vigo. The breeding stations are as far from small battle ships in the fjord-like estuary lie. Fischer attract tons, up to 15 meter-long ropes, in which the shellfish hang with cranes on their boats. After this the way to the Cies Islands free.

Shortly after the Cape Home, the harsh north wind in the sails and the boat shoots in bank through the dark blue of the Atlantic.

Already after a few minutes of the beach Rodas and the underlying headland to see what the two islands Monteagudo and Illa do Faro connect. Ramón fetches the main sail to the speed slows down and goes into the bay at anchor. The turquoise blue waters and white sandy beaches are a stark contrast to the pine and eucalyptus forests behind.

At this sight, you can understand why the British newspaper "The Guardian" the Praia das Rodas, two years ago to the "most beautiful beach in the world" chose. "Since we can hardly questions before visitors even save," says the warden, José Manuel López.

Of course he wants that as many people come to enjoy the natural paradise know. Too many but it should also not be, so that the ecosystem is not too much will be charged: "That is why we have restricted the number of visitors. Maximum allowed 2200 people per day visit the island," explains José Manuel.

Colorful and bustle below the water surface

Cies The group consists of the three islands Monteagudo, Illa do Faro and San Martino. Together with the island groups
Ons, and Cortegada Salvora and some 20 smaller islets, it forms the 2002-founded National Galician Atlantic islands. Which is almost 80 percent under water.

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"Each island group is located in front of a fjord-like flow of arms of the Galician coast, and the exchange between the salty ocean and the freshwater of the Rías Baxias ensures high water quality and nutrient concentration," says the warden. The result is an underwater life with 200 species of algae and an abundance of shellfish, octopus and fish. Even dolphins, turtles and whales cavort in the waters.

The seclusion of the Atlantic Islands to attract water and birds of prey. Especially good are the large colonies of cormorants, guillemots and Basstölpeln from a boat on the island looking to the Atlantic side, with its rugged cliffs to watch.

With around 22,000 pairs nest on the Atlantic islands and one of the largest gull colonies in the world. Who is not with the boat is underway, can also Cies observation from space at the Alto de Campa, the gulls from the nearby spectacular. Here in the vicinity were the remains of settlements dating back to 3500 BC found. The Romans settled in the second century after Christ on Cies and called it the "Island of the Gods". Since 18 Cies century is uninhabited.

Dangerous hunting of valuable shellfish

Passing the lighthouse do Peito to go from the Cies Islands in the direction of north to the Ría de Pontevedra and the upstream Atlantic Ons and Onza Islands. At its open sea cliffs over looking to sail, it could hardly be more exciting. Often the locals here
Collecting dangerous duck and mussels can be observed.

TMN
Small islands in the large estuaries: Several islands form the National Galician Atlantic Islands

The stone crosses on the cliffs recall that many fishermen in the surf their lives. On the island, hiking trails lead to vantage points such as the Mirador de Fedorentos with his outlook on Onza and Cies or Burato do Inferno, the "hell hole", which is steep in depth.

Ons is the largest and only inhabited islands of the Atlantic. Only 20 people live here everyday like 50 years ago. "But we are satisfied. We have made our peace and everything we need: fish, octopus, goat, chicken and vegetables," says Victoria and driving their goats in the barn. In a so-called stone Horreo keep onions, tomatoes and corn for the typical Galician empanadas on.

Of course, in the filled pasta and fresh octopus. Ons is in Spain as the "Mecca of pulpos," the octopus, known. Lola Vidal prepares it in the restaurant "Casa Checho" with coarse salt, olive oil and paprika too.

Along the beaches north of Ons is Salvora see the island, which Spain's largest colony of Gelbfußmöwen is practically used. Passing hundreds of mussel is by sailboat in the estuary of Arousa. Here are just a few hundred meters away from the mainland also belong to the national park islands and Malveiras Cortegada with her laurel forest.