National Parks

Nine of the seventeen sit in Spain, eight in Iceland. The Spanish half spreads from the Pyrenees — Aiguestortes National Park and its 200-plus alpine lakes, Anisclo Canyon — to Andalusian karst at Torcal of Antequera, laurel forest in Anaga Rural Park and Balearic salt marshes. Iceland's are volcanic and glacial: Vatnajökull National Park covers roughly 14% of the country. Several of the remoter sites work only in summer: Skalanes is reached by 4x4 across river fords, and the boat trip to the Beluga Whale Sanctuary runs in season.