As every year, Correos issues a stamp dedicated to World Heritage, in this case, to the Garajonay National Park, on the Island of La Gomera.
The stamp, which is in the shape of a two-euro coin, shows the Alto de Garajonay in relief, which gives its name to this park. The block sheet that frames it presents a beautiful intaglio of that mountain, as well as the image of the green that surrounds it.
Garajonay National Park is one of the four Canarian National Parks along with El Teide, La Caldera de Taburiente and Timanfaya.
In the heart of the island of La Gomera is this park, which hides a spectacular forest: laurisilva or Monteverde.
It was declared a National Park in 1981 and five years later, World Heritage by UNESCO, due to the value of its ecosystem.
The trade winds, typical of the area, cause constant fog causing high levels of humidity.
The so-called horizontal rain keeps the evergreen laurel-shaped leaves wet, which give their name to the laurel forest that makes up such a special forest.
This wonderful ecosystem favors the presence of a specific and no less curious fauna and flora.
In terms of flora, its own species stand out, such as the already mentioned laurisilva and the fayal-brezal. Viñátigo laurels and white sticks abound in the humid areas, and in the drier areas, beeches and heathers. Humidity also favors the presence of a large number of fungi.
As for the fauna, the birds are the protagonists, with the sparrowhawk, the hawks or the kestrel soaring through the sky. Also, the two species of pigeon native to the Canary Islands live in this park: the turqué and the rabiche.
Like any forest with a certain magical atmosphere, this one has a tragic-love legend: the legend of Gara and Jonay, two aboriginal princes, who, faced with the opposition of their families, decide to commit suicide. Since then, that laurel forest mountain has been called Garajonay in memory of the two lovers who preferred to die together than continue their lives apart.
