Huelva, Spain's Donana

It is difficult to travel to Spain without making comparisons to my home state, Texas (formerly New Spain). Which is why, I could not write about Huelva or the Province of Huelva without mentioning Donana National Park and Natural Park. Located in the province’s southeast, Donana National Park and Natural Park was named a World Heritage site in 1994, and covers 104,920 hectares.

The unique area sits between the Guadalquivir River, Atlantic Ocean, with marshes, dunes, forest and scrublands making it home to dryland and wetland animals. Ducks, geese, flamingos, eagles, deer, fallow deer, wild boars, mongooses and more populate the area.

Just like Texas, it’s perfect to accommodate Andalucian horses, cattle-raising, farming and ranching, or heading to a nearby beach. Additionally, the “donaneros,” people from surrounding Almonte and Hinojos, preserve the land to hand down to each generation. Just like ranchers (or farmers) in Texas.

Upon every visit to Spain, I’ve frequented flamenco shows, bull fighting, tapas-tastings, and horse shows, often recalling mimicking these traditions back home. But it wasn’t until visiting the various terrains of Spain and Donana that I understood why my ancestors found a home in South Texas.