Wide plains, mountain massifs with magnificent routes, green woods, great cliffs, rich marshes and relaxing beaches. Nature lovers have a lot to discover in Euskadi. Its uneven landscapes' diversity and beauty is evident not only in the established natural parks, but in most part of the territory.
The 7,200 km² of the Basque Autonomous Region present two main landscape types. On the one hand, a wide coastal stripe, green, damp and mountainous, which includes Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and the North of Alava. On the other hand, Alava's southern wide and dry plains, which are a sign of the relief and weather characteristics of the Castilian Plateau. Among those extremes, Alava's plains act as a transition area.
Nowadays Euskadi consists of several protected natural spaces, where different projects for the recovery of flora and fauna take place. Natural parks: Urkiola, Gorbeia, Aralar, Valderejo, Izki and Aiako Harria; Urdaibai biosphere reserve and, finally, protected biotopes: Itxina, Laguardia, Leizaran and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. Damp spaces with magic mountains and legendary potholes that allow the visitor enjoying the charms of nature.
Apart from mountains and natural parks, the seaside is one of the main attractions of Euskadi, where steep cliffs alternate with river mouths, marshes and thin-sand beaches.
Most Basque beaches are perfectly equipped with services and offer the chance of practising many water sports.