Inicio Landscapes of Andalucia

Map of Andalusian landscapes

The drafting of the map of Andalusian landscapes, besides constituting a significant step forwards towards the knowledge of the region's landscape resources, also represents a basic reference for the development of many lines of research in relation to the landscape. In this sense, the following map, is not only an important contribution towards the identification and classification of landscape resources, but it also constitutes an important geographic and cartographic basis for the study, assessment, protection, management and planning of Andalusian landscapes.

The map of Andalusian landscapes is articulated into two levels of graphic representation of the region's landscape resources. At the first level, with a strong natural and morpho-structural character, but also historic, socio-economic and spatial organization aspects, the map establishes for the whole of Andalucia 85 landscape units (ámbitos) of which 84 are peninsular and one corresponds to the islands of Alboran, which respond to situations of great physical, environmental, social and territorial homogeneity and are named using toponyms of great social recognition (Hoya de Guadix, Condado-Aljarafe, Las Alpujarras, Costa del Sol Occidental y Oriental...). These landscape units have been grouped into 19 landscape areas which can also be grouped into 5 great landscape categories: (1) mountain ranges, (2) open cultivated land , (3) high plateaus and sub-desert steppes, (4) valleys, lowlands and marshlands and (5) coastal areas. Through these landscape areas and categories it is possible to characterize the different landscape units taking into account their most important geomorphological and landscape traits. At a second level, related principally with the scenic traits of the landscape, the map's legend represents 35 physiognomic units which reflect formal characteristics (texture, colors,...)  and structural morphologies (tables, bad lands, ...). These physiognomic units are grouped in the map into four groups according to the main landscape components within them. In this way there are physiognomic units with a predominance of (1) natural or naturalized vegetation, (2) agricultural crops, (3) geological forms and (4) buildings or very altered spaces. 

From the point of view of the assessment of landscape resources, the establishment of these landscape categories, areas, units and physiognomic units, has set the basis for the drafting of a future Atlas of Andalusian landscapes and the definition of a system of landscape indicators at regional and sub-regional scale. The progressive identification and characterization of Andalusian landscapes will also allow a better implementation of legislation regarding the consideration of landscape aspects in environmental impact assessment, up to now scarcely considered due to the lack of precise references.

LANDSCAPE CATEGORIES

LANDSCAPE AREAS

LANDSCAPE UNITS