 The cold climate, the strong wind, and the abundant snow during most of the year are the reasons why forests only grow at low altitudes and the fauna is composed of small animals.The dominant vegetation is a matorral of broom and jabino, which alternates with meadows of "Nardus stricta" in wetter areas like the cirque basins.Less plentiful but of equal interest are the swamp blueberries of the Peñalara plains.