Manzanares (river) protected as the "Parque Regional de la Cuenca Alta del Manzanares", a nature reserve which is recognised as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The Manzanares flows in a south-eastern direction from its source, and passes through the medieval town of Manzanares el Real where it is dammed to form the Santillana reservoir, one of the most important water supplies for the capital. The river then takes a southern direction and enters the Monte del Pardo, an ecologically valuable area on the edge of Madrid. The river is canalised where it passes through the built-up areas of the city. As at
Francisco de Manzanares y Dardos Francisco de Manzanares y Dardos Francisco de Manzanares y Dardos (born-16th-century) was a Spanish nobleman and politician, who served during the Viceroyalty of Peru, holding honorary functions as alcalde, alguacil, lieutenant governor and regidor of Buenos Aires. Francisco was born in Villa de la Membrilla, La Mancha, the son of Pedro Alonso Dardos and María López de Manzanares, belonging to illustrious Spanish families. In Buenos Aires he was married with Leonor de Aguilar Pérez de Burgos, daughter of the Spanish notary Francisco Pérez de Burgos and Juana de Aguilar y Salvatierra, a Creole lady, daughter of Andrés Gil and Leonor