Limpias
Limpias is located in a privileged natural setting, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and forests. The landscape is characterised by its beauty and diversity, with green hills, deep valleys, and panoramic views. In addition, its proximity to the Bay of Biscay provides a unique coastal environment.
Limpias is located in a privileged natural setting, surrounded by mountains, rivers, and forests. The landscape is characterised by its beauty and diversity, with green hills, deep valleys, and panoramic views. In addition, its proximity to the Bay of Biscay provides a unique coastal environment.
Limpias se encuentra en un entorno natural privilegiado, rodeado de montañas, ríos y bosques. El paisaje se caracteriza por su belleza y diversidad, con colinas verdes, valles profundos y vistas panorámicas. Además, su cercanía al mar Cantábrico proporciona un entorno costero único.
The Limpias marshes are located in the southern sector of the Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Natural Park, being one of the most important wetlands in the northern Iberian Peninsula. The Asón River is the main watercourse in Limpias, designated as a Special Conservation Area (SCA), but it is primarily one of the most emblematic symbols of the area and stands as the principal natural feature.
This environment is also part of the Valles de Cantabria Geopark project, which is in the process of applying for UNESCO Global Geopark status.
It is integrated into the Natura 2000 Network and the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. This natural space houses various protected areas, such as Special Conservation Areas (SCAs) and Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs). Furthermore, Limpias is located within an Important Bird Area (IBA) in Spain.
This area represents one of the sites with the greatest biological diversity in the Iberian Peninsula, home to hundreds of bird species, small mammals, and unique flora. The main caves and pits in the municipality of Limpias and how different prospecting, exploration, and topography work were carried out in our caves are also notable.
In Limpias and its surroundings, a wide variety of native plant species can be found. Some of the main species include oak, beech, birch, yew, hazel, and holly. These species contribute to the formation of dense forests rich in biodiversity.
We can enjoy several rivers, such as the Asón River and the Agüera River, which flow through the area, as well as small ponds or reservoirs. Moreover, the coast is nearby, with beaches such as those in Laredo and Oriñón. Limpias' natural ecosystem is rich in biodiversity, offering a wide range of landscapes.
The history of this municipality has left prehistoric traces, such as the Ciruelo Cave in Seña, which has provided ceramic remains from the Bronze Age. The only open-air site was found near Yelso de Hayas, where evidence of occupation was discovered, with a site containing stones partially affected by fire.
Megalithic shepherds built tumuli and menhirs. Today, the Yelso de Hayas menhir, or "Mojón Alto" as it is popularly known, is preserved, a sandstone stone nearly 4 metres high. Originally a menhir, it now serves as a boundary marker for the areas of Ampuero, Limpias, and Liendo.
At the entrance to Limpias, you will come across an idyllic spot, the Costamar Garden. Here, you can disconnect and relax with the perfect view of the estuary merging into the background with the Santoña Marshes, surrounded by the sounds of nature. Additionally, a sports area with a calisthenics park has been set up.
If you continue walking out of this park, you will join the Asón River Walk, a route that passes through historical and traditional areas of the municipality.
Limpias has notable subterranean heritage, including the Hoyo Molino in Seña and other pits spread across different mountain areas, where various prospecting, exploration, and topography activities have taken place. Among them are the well-known "Torca Tinito", the Torca del Tío Amador, more than thirty metres deep, the Torca de la Llana, exceeding twenty-five metres, and more recent explorations focused on the "Carro-Manzanas System", which already exceeds five hundred metres in development.
A significant portion of the Limpias territory is within the Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Natural Park, which provides important natural, scenic, and ecological value.
It is an ideal location for birdwatching, with a wide variety of species, around 130 different ones. Golden eagle, griffon vulture, red kite, blackbird, sparrowhawk... As for waterfowl, this wetland complex is the most important in northern Spain, with species such as herons, cormorants, and swans.
Mammals also make their presence known in this area. If we venture into the mountains, we may encounter roe deer, wild boars, moles, badgers, foxes, wildcats, or wolves.