View source for Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park

{{Short description|Natural park in Cape Verde}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park
| photo =ValeRibeiraPaul.JPG
| photo_caption=The Paul Valley facing towards the ocean
| alt_name =
| area = {{convert|20.92|km2|abbr=on}}
| iucn_category =
}}
'''Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park''', in the east of the island of [[Santo Antão, Cape Verde|Santo Antão]], is one of ten "natural parks" in the country of [[Cape Verde]].<ref name=areas>[http://www.areasprotegidas.gov.cv/images/Parques%20Naturais_pdf.pdf Parques Naturais], Áreas protegidas Cabo Verde</ref> Its area is {{convert|20.92|km2|abbr=on}},<ref name=resol>[http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/cvi154186.pdf Resolução nº 36/2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118230515/http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/cvi154186.pdf |date=2021-01-18 }}, Estratégia e Plano Nacional de Negócios das Áreas Protegidas</ref> of which {{convert|8.91|km2|abbr=on}} in the municipality of [[Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde (municipality)|Ribeira Grande]], {{convert|8.85|km2|abbr=on}} in the municipality of [[Paul, Cape Verde|Paul]] and {{convert|3.16|km2|abbr=on}} in the municipality of [[Porto Novo, Cape Verde (municipality)|Porto Novo]].<ref name=areas/> Since 2016, the natural park is on the tentative list of [[World Heritage Site]]s.<ref name=unesco>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6105 Parc Naturel Cova, Paúl et Ribeira da Torre], UNESCO</ref>
==Geography==
[[File:Cova Krater.jpg|thumb|right|The area surrounding the Cova Crater]]
[[File:Ribiera da torre1.JPG|thumb|right|Ribeira da Torre and its valley]]
The natural park covers the [[Cova (crater)|Cova Crater]], the upper valley of the [[Ribeira da Torre]] (from [[Xoxo, Cape Verde|Xoxo]] upstream), the upper valley of the [[Ribeira do Paul]] and the [[Pico da Cruz]].<ref name=gomes>[http://www.portaldoconhecimento.gov.cv/bitstream/10961/1973/1/Consultoria%20em%20Gest%C3%A3o%20de%20Recursos%20Naturais%20%E2%80%93%20%C3%81reas%20Protegidas%20Santo%20Ant%C3%A3o.pdf Consultoria em Gestão de Recursos Naturais], Isildo Gomes, p. 17-30</ref> The landscape is characterised by the volcanic crater of Cova, the steep cliffs and escarpments that end in the deep river valleys. Its elevation ranges from around 400 m near Xoxo to 1585 m at the Pico da Cruz.<ref name=unesco/>
==Flora and fauna==
The land cover in the natural park is part forest and part farmland. It has a large variety of endemic plants, many of which are [[critically endangered]], [[endangered species|endangered]] or [[vulnerable species]], including ''[[Carex antoniensis]]'', ''[[Conyza pannosa]]'', ''[[Tornabenea insularis]]'', ''[[Euphorbia tuckeyana]]'' and ''[[Globularia amygdalifolia]]''.<ref name=gomes/> The park is the habitat of several endemic species of reptiles and birds.<ref name=unesco/>
==See also==
*[[List of protected areas in Cape Verde]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Protected areas in Cape Verde}}
{{Santo Antão, Cape Verde}}
{{coord|17.12208|-25.02677|display=title}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park| ]]
[[Category:National parks of Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Geography of Santo Antão, Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Paul, Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Porto Novo Municipality]]
[[Category:Ribeira Grande Municipality]]