The Guadarrama mountains have a series of environmental features that make them a very unique place. The typical characteristics of high mountain areas blend with the characteristics of the Mediterranean climate it is set in. Add to this its high altitude gradient (between 2430 and 1200 m) and the lithological change with respect to the Duero and Tajo plateaux and the result is a large variety of environments which house a wide range of habitats and species.