Photo by img.viajeauruguay.comGREEN AGENDA (1872)URUGUAY (15) URUGUAY (1) , (2) , (3) , (4) , (5) , (6) , (7) , (8) , (9) , (10) , (11) , (12) , (13) , (14) , PROTECTED AREAS (7)PROTECTED LANDSCAPEProtected Landscape: corresponds to a continental or maritma territorial area, where the interaction between people and nature, over the years, has resulted in an area of distinct character, which presents a unique scenic beauty or is bearing a testimony of singular value And may contain ecological or cultural values.QUEBRADA DE LOS CUERVOS The Quebrada de los Cuervos (Ravine of the Crows) is a gorge, located 45 km from the city of Thirty-Three, in the department (state) of the same name, Thirty-Three. Its mountainous topography of metamorphic rocks reaches up to 300 m in height. The gorge is an open canyon created by the deep notch caused by the waters of the Yerbal Chico.Its name originates the presence of vultures (Cathartes aura ruficollis) with red head (crow) and "Quebrada" means valley, ravine, canyon. Thus Quebrada de los Cuervos means Crow Ravine.This protected area of 365 ha was donated in 1944 by Francisco Nicasio Oliveres and for a long time was preserved by residents of the area in its original state: a robust ravine and difficult to access, thus remained almost unknown.On August 21, 1986, the then Mayor Wilson Elso Goni, recognized the Quebrada de los Cuervos as Protected Natural Area and was the first of its kind in Uruguay. As of that date, the ownership and management of the park was under the responsibility of the provincial government.In 1994, 100 species of birds, 20 mammals, 18 amphibians and 20 fish were cataloged; 224 species of native flora were also recorded, with 23 species of ferns.Photo by mw2.google.comQuebrada de los Cuervos, a pioneer in ecological protection, was recognized on September 29, 2008 by the Government of Uruguay as a "protected landscape" with a total of 4,413 ha, being included in the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP), after the Which received infrastructure for ecotourism (camping, restrooms, guides, trails, rangers).The upper part of the gorge has a large amount of grasses and cyperaceae among them, including wild grasses (Panicum prionitis, Paspalum spp., Erianthus spp., and Andropogon lateralis), as well as shrubs and mountain trees.Closer to the bed (lower part of the valley) are species such as palms, creepers, lianas, ferns and even some types of cacti in the rocky areas. It is noteworthy the presence of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis).The protected area was also designated an IBA (Important Bird Area) by BirdLife and is inhabited by several endangered bird species: Agelaius flavus, Xolmis dominicanus, Limnoctites rectirostris, Chestnut Seedeater and Sporophila ruficollis, among others. There live also some species of crows Cathartidae, Cathartes aura and Coragyps atratus.In addition to the birds, in the Quebrada de los Cuervos can be found several types of mammals, arachnids, insects and reptiles, many of them poisonous, among them, the species known as Almada (Liophis almadensis), seriema (Cariama cristata), Dragon (Xanthopsar flavus). One of the threatened mammals is the tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla).(Until Wednesday,