Mount Pindos, where magic becomes reality.

                                    View from the top of Mount Pindos. | Soledad Felloza

Father Sarmiento said this hill that had magical properties, Otero Pedrayo so called "big head Jovian" historian Xosé Barreiro said that one of its peaks lies an order of three and Cesar Antonio Molina sextinas captured in a beautiful poem the essence of this colossus made rocks. And the mountain Pindus (between Cee, Dumbría, Carnota and Mazar) has been, and remains, a stone giant that dominates the shores of the world's end. Perhaps for that, and its resemblance to the Greek Pindus, known as 'the Olympus Celtic Galicia'.

Ézaro Waterfall, the only European who falls into the sea. | Felloza Soledad.

The myths and fables inhabit caves and forests and the numerous archaeological remains show the importance that this place had throughout history. Therefore, since October 2010, the Mount Pindos National Park Association to fight this mountain be declared a natural park. Its main objective, protect and preserve for future generations.

Increased aggression.

In recent years have increased attacks against this space. On the one hand, the numerous raids of hunters on the other indiscriminate access of motorcycles and quads and, ultimately, a practice that has become a fashion to paint and record the rocks on the summit. "As we continue and will not be a stone that is not painted," complains Xilberto Caamaño, president of the association.

And that, despite the fact that this mountain is a natural area with Carnota beach-the longest and one of the most beautiful of Galicia, which is listed as a Site of Community Importance and included in the Natura 2000 network. In total, 4629 hectares, the vast majority in Carnota, but also extends to neighboring municipalities of Mazar, Cee and Dumbría.

Inside, unique biological treasures are hidden in Galicia as the 'carballo Ananus' (Quercus lusitanica), a rare species of oak found only in the south of the peninsula and northern Morocco. There is also the mountain lily (Iris boisserie Henriq), a plant endemic to the peninsula northwest is in danger of extinction and has one of its habitats in the Pindus mountains, in addition to the mountains of O and O Courel Xurés.

The house-cave Xoana. | Soledad Felloza

But undoubtedly the most impressive of Mount Pindus are landscape and stories and legends that hidden among the rocks. From its summit, 627 meters high, dominates, on a clear day, almost half of Galicia from Mount A Groba in Oia, to Mount Faro Lalin, plus half of the Costa da Morte . "We do not understand how such a place is more secure yet," laments Mario Maceiras, secretary of the association.

Castles and Legends

Accompanied by members of the association visited the magical places of the mountain. And the castles and forts hidden Pindo that give an air of mythical and sacred. At its summit is the Pedra da Moa with hundreds of "pious"-natural-bath, which is believed to Celtic rituals were done. And a little further down, hidden in a rock cave A Ermida, where he was an old church that has discovered an ancient inscription. "We think it is related to the rebuilding of the chapel in the twelfth century," said Xilberte Caamaño.

Surrounding the mountain are built several castles: San Xurxo, built by Bishop Sisnando in the tenth century to defend the land of the Viking attacks or Penafiel, who hides a mysterious entry in Galicia single nomination for his content: "Kings, bishops, priests, all for God-given powers, excommunicated here that castle" and, unfortunately, has been recently sprayed with a spray. On its east side are the 'Castelino, "a defensive complex preceding a large walled space that surrounds the mountain.

Some archaeological remains have their legends. The Pindus is defended by great warriors to protect one of the roads embodied in stone giants, perhaps to defend a mythical kingdom in Galicia, Queen Lupa, who lived in it and is buried next to one of its walls.

From the summit above 600 meters high with a spectacular view. | Soledad Felloza.

The Witches of O Pindo

But Pindar also lived mythical beings such as 'Moura', hiding among rocks and tried to woo the unwary, and even witches. In one of its peaks is hidden 'da Xoana Cave house' or 'Reverte demos', a beautiful cave that is said to have made covens in Midsummer and where witches were thrown on their brooms touring the region. The local people also went to this place to heal certain ailments like the "air of spirits."

And the Pindus has everything to become a new natural area in Galicia. In addition, the area that is holds three records in Galicia. It has the longest beach in the community, more than seven miles long by one wide, with a lagoon of Caldebarcos, inside, has the only waterfall in Europe that falls directly into the sea of ​​40-O Ézaro meters, and granaries longer Galicia, more than 30 meters long. "Paradise by the worth to keep fighting," Xilberte Caamaño sentence.

At the foot of Pindus Beach Carnota. | Soledad Felloza

Source of information: www.elmundo.es