CIES ISLANDS: 15 YEARS OF NATIONAL PARK
Friday, June 30 2017
On the sunny morning of 1st July 2002 the Ria de Vigo glistened around the Cies Islands as it does on any typical summer’s day.
Yet it was to be a particularly special day; one where all of the islands in Galicia were set to initiate a course of great hope for the future with the creation under law of the Parque Nacional Marítimo Terrestre de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia (lit. The Galician Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park).
A long process to design and carefully conserve the islands was thus finalised, facilitating the sustainable enjoyment and intelligent use of Cies (this little chunk of the municipality of Vigo), which holds such great symbolic value it is almost legendary.
The Cies Islands and the Ria make up the intrinsic landscape of Vigo and its metropolitan area, and yet everyone who visits the islands is completely enraptured by their extraordinary natural beauty. It has become absolutely essential to conserve them, and join the large wake formed by all those who love and care for our islands.
The Cies Islands will soon be a World Heritage Site!