The region covered by the botanic expedition
The Côa River represents a significant fluvial corridor, with about 140km of extension. From the source, in Mesas Mountain (Sabugal), to the mouth, in the Douro River (Foz Côa), this river crosses the plateau area of the Beira Interior, which corresponds to the end of the Iberian Meseta. This extensive territory, with an essentially flat relief, is mainly formed by granites, with altitudes varying between 600 and 900 metres. The mountain of Mesas, which is the cradle of the Côa river, reaches an altitude of 1250 meters and is influenced by the continentality of the Meseta, contributing to harsh winters and hot summers. The uniformity of the landscape is only interrupted by the deep valley of the Coa river and some of its tributaries.
Its natural landscape has recovered in recent decades, and there are now large tracts of young oak trees, mixed with natural meadows and ash tree groves. Consequently, wildlife has returned to or strengthened its presence in this territory, with large herbivores such as the Red deer and the Roe deer standing out.
This landscape is formed by a great diversity of mediterranean plants, including several Iberian endemics.
