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Barragem da Paradela


Barragem da Paradela
Photo Information
Copyright: Felipe Mateo and Cristina (extramundi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2048 W: 351 N: 4191] (12682)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-06
Categories: Mountain
Camera: Sony DSC-F717, Carl Zeiss 9.7-48.5, Sony 58mm. circular polarizer
Exposure: f/8, 1/80 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-05-11 15:04
Viewed: 1979
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is my first non spanish shot.

Galician language is similar to portuguese, and as you go to the south of galicia (Spain) and enter Portugal, the mixture of similar cultures, way of life and languages are very pleasant and makes me feel at home.

This is taken in "Barragem da Paradela" in Peneda-Geres natural park of northen Portugal, built in 1957. Although this mountains have rich valleys with wonderful flora and fauna I chose this one first, because this park is full of artificial lakes or "barragens" for hydroelectric porposes. This fact is very negative for nature and cultural mantainance. The rivers are destroyed with the flow regulations and all species that go up the river for reproduction dissapear. The old villages, churches, monuments, grave yards, even the megalitic stones, had to be moved up the mountain... a lot of them are under the water, as very few archeological research has been made before the construction.

Although it may sound strange with everything I said, this was the first protected area to be founded in Portugal in 1971 and it is the only national park in the country. Having once been the home of the brown bear and the mountain goat, Peneda-Gerês is today one of the last refuges of the great predators, such as the wolf and the royal eagle.

Peneda-Gerês is of particular note because it is the only National Park in existence in Portugal. It covers an area of 72,000 hectares and has an extraordinary diversity of climate, envirorunents and scenery, comprising the transition zone between the Mediterranean and Euro-Siberian regions.
Because of this, flora and fauna are found that are rare or non existent in other parts of the country.
Human occupation dates back 7,000 years and Megalithic, Celtic and Roman monuments are found frequently.
Memory and inheritance from these times are the vestiges of community life, almost extinct today but still present in certain isolated points where they have still survived the modern manifestations of human intervention.

Hope you like!

F:8 - 1/80 - Manual mode - Tripod.
Signal-Womb, marhowie, AndyB, netfalls, red45, liquidsunshine, Toni, hummingbird24, xuaxo, Hormon_Manyer has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To red45: Not many.extramundi 1 05-12 13:21
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Critiques [Translate]

Halo Felipe!
This is amazing place. I love it very much and I'm just dreaming about holidays!

Lovely shot Felipe, good composition and colour clarity with some nice detail in foreground to keep the eye busy, well done.

  •      
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2005-05-11 19:13]

A very nice shot Felipe.
Great colours and excellent composition.
Interesting note too.
Good work,very well done.

Very beautiful, Felipe.
No mushrooms ? ;-) Very good details, beautiful colours and well composed.
Good work.

Very nice landscape, it would have been better to get closer to the water IMO.
Well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2805 W: 75 N: 7845] (26275)
  • [2005-05-12 4:14]
  • [+]

This is really great landscape Felipe! Beutifull region, full of blue sky and colorfull flowers as we can see on your photo. Great composition, clarity and POV. I hope you took much more pictures in Portugal. What about Portuguese fungi ;-) ?

Great landscape Felipe. Sharp and clear with the spotting of colorful wildflowers FG adding nicely..Great POV and a pleasure to look at, Well done!

Very nice landscape Felipe,
Stunning colours, well detailed and a good POV.
This looks like a very peaceful place, thanks for sharing it with us.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-05-12 16:57]

Hola Felipe
Bonito paisaje que inspira tranquilidad. Bonita luz y colores.
Saludos Toni

  • Great 
  • xuaxo Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 16] (112)
  • [2006-03-05 0:54]

Olá Felipe,
Bonito panorama, boa nota com interessantes informações. Este é o único Parque Nacional, mas há vários parques naturais e reservas.
Francisco

Hi Felipe,
Your first - and 'til now only - Portuguese shot. Lovely landscape, fantastic color harmony, beautiful exposure and colors, not to mention great POV. Not the best place for fungi hunting - but a place to see, a pleasant pic to the eyes. Tfs. Also for the informative note.
Cheerz, MF, best wishes, László

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