RIAS BAIXAS (UPPER)

PENINSULA OF BARBANZA

It is watered by the water of the Atlantic ocean inside the estuary of Muros-Noia. It has a privileged situation from the communications point of view, because it is 45 kilometres far from Santiago de Compostela; and it is also very well communicated by the sea, because it makes the division of the northern and southern coast of Galicia.

Celtic Hill-fort of Castro de Barona, which sits on its own spectacular peninsula jutting out into the wild sea. It is a very good example of a coastline hill-fort. There is a very interesting legend behind this site, it is said that anyone who sees the image or shape of a lions head in the hill-fort rock formations they will be selected to join the rebirth of the Celtic Clan of Baroña. Take a look around the hill-fort and keep your eyes peeled for the lions head your guide will not reveal the secret until the end of the visit.



Dolmen of Axeitos. Walking through the small trail, you will see in the distance the Dolmen. A Dolmen is a Megalithic burial structure, also adapted and used by the Celts. It consists of large slabs of stone normally two or three standing stones to act as the support for the head stone placed on the top. There are many theories as to how the Huge Head stone is placed on top of the top lateral standing stone, but much still remains a mystery. Inside the Dolmens the Celts buried their warriors and Chieftains with all their arms, jewels etc… The Dolmen of Axeitos is a very good example of a burial Dolmen with the two standing stones and head stone well preserved and intact.




Corrubedo, with its lighthouse, is the last point in the Atlantic Ocean, and Santa Uxía is the town with the biggest marine and economic life in the Barbanza and the first coastal fishing harbour in Spain. The fishing fleet constitutes its economical basis and its main activity, considered like the most important one in coastal fishing of the CEE. Gathering shellfish, the sea product transforming companies, and the services sector complement its economy.




Dunes of Corrubedo, the most valued jewel without doubt in this areas is the natural park of Corrubedo and the lakes of Carregal and Vixán, which has witnesses of geology, hydrology and biology from the parish of Carreira to Corrubedo. It is situated in the Atlantic end of the Barbanza and its ecological unit is formed by a group of forests, fields, lakes, mudflats, rivers, beaches and dunes over which there is a very rich life. With this diversity and in its mild climate, more than 200 vegetal varieties grow and 35 species of water birds live there. The waters of the mudflats are also hatcheries of fish and crustaceans that will inhabit the estuary. The group of dunes has the administrative centre in the place of Vilar and from this place, the visitor can go towards more outstanding places like the lake of Vixán, fragas de Casalnovo, fluvial area of the Carregal, rivers that feed the scenery like the Longo, the Sirves or the Artes. Considering that the liquid concentrated in the central lake has only a mouth by which the tides go up and down, the spectacle of this mouth is exciting and dangerous. This drainage is called River of the Sea. But the most valuable things in the park are the dunes that reach a length of 1 kilometre and 250 metres wide, with a medium height of 13 metres. The sand phenomenon seems to be a huge cetacean with golden flesh and rugged skin.