Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park

Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park is one of the oldest protected areas in Spain, located in the Pyrenees, in the Sobrarbe region. Protection of this land dates back to 1918, when a national park covering the Ordesa Valley was first established. Today the protected area spans 156.08 square kilometres, making it one of the larger national parks in the Spanish Pyrenees.

How large is the park and when was it founded?

The park has a long history of nature protection. It was originally created in 1918, covering only the Ordesa Valley itself. In 1982 the protected area was significantly enlarged to cover the whole surrounding region, extending well beyond the valley that gave the park its original name. The park's current area amounts to 156.08 square kilometres. It sits at coordinates around 42.67°N, 0.06°E, placing it in the central section of the Pyrenean mountain range, close to the Spanish-French border.

What kind of protected area is it?

Ordesa y Monte Perdido holds the status of a Category II national park under the classification system of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). IUCN Category II designates protected areas managed primarily to safeguard large-scale ecological processes and ecosystems, while also providing opportunities for visitors to experience the area through tourism, recreation and education carried out in ways compatible with conservation. This category is typically applied to areas of outstanding natural value that are, at the same time, meant to remain accessible to the public.

Where exactly is the park located?

The park lies in the Pyrenees, within the Sobrarbe region, in the province of Huesca, in Aragon, Spain. The Pyrenees form a mountain range stretching along the border between Spain and France, known for high peaks, deep valleys and dramatic rock formations. The park's position within this range links it to the broader transboundary character of the Pyrenean mountains — on the French side of the range, other protected natural areas exist, together forming a wider network of high-mountain conservation across the two countries.

Frequently asked questions

When was Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park established? Protection of the area began in 1918, with a national park covering the Ordesa Valley. The park reached its current extent following the 1982 enlargement.

How large is the protected area? Following the 1982 expansion, the park covers 156.08 square kilometres.

What protection category does the park have? It is classified as an IUCN Category II protected area, a designation used for parks managed mainly to conserve ecosystems while allowing nature-compatible tourism.

Where is the park located? In the Pyrenees, in the Sobrarbe region of Spain, at approximately 42.67°N, 0.06°E.

Did the park always cover its current area? No — it originally covered only the Ordesa Valley when created in 1918. Its present, much larger extent dates from the 1982 enlargement.