Evaluation of the perception of high mountain aquatic ecosystems by visitors and nearby residents of the National Park

Abstract

The study analysed the perception that visitors and nearby residents of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park and the Alt Pirineu Natural Park have with respect to high mountain aquatic ecosystems. The study has allowed the identification of the different degrees of social knowledge and evaluation (from the ecological, landscape, and leisure points of view) of the four types of aquatic ecosystems analysed, with the lakes the best known, followed by rivers and streams, while carbonated springs and peat bogs are relatively unknown.