Zaframagón Interpretation Centre and Ornithological Observatory

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Centro Interpretación y Observatorio de Zaframagón

The Zaframagón Interpretation Centre and Ornithological Observatory are located in the former Zaframagón train station. The Centre boasts a Video Surveillance Monitoring System of griffon vulture nesting site. A 360°-rotation, high-sensitivity, digital camera provides real-time images of the griffon vultures flying, feeding their chicks and nesting. The camera is camouflaged among the rocks in a hard to access area. It is located opposite the Guadalporcún Canyon, just 200 metres from where the vultures nest, on the steepest slope of the Peñon.

The camera is made of environment-friendly material. It has a 300 millimetres motorised zoom, a high-capacity, infrared night vision system and up to 99 different positions. The location and power of the equipment enable the input to be sent -through a fibre optic network- to an 800 gigabytes digital reproduction and recording equipment located 1 kilometre away, in the Interpretation Centre. The keyboard has a joystick to control the camera remotely, and a plasma screen where the images are displayed in real-time and recorded. The images can, therefore, be viewed on the Vía Verde de la Sierra Foundation website.

The Interpretation Centre also houses an interesting environmental library, interpretation panels on the Peñón de Zaframagón Nature Reserve, the griffon vulture and its natural surroundings, as well as the Sierra Greenway. There is also a souvenir shop.