Cork harvest in Spain

A mule man, or "arriero," loads a mule with bark from cork oaks at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales near Alcala de los Gazules, Spain, July 3, 2013.

Spain and Portugal are the largest producers of cork in the world with Los Alcornocales Natural Park in the Iberian Peninsula being the leading region for production.

The ancient cork cultivated in these oak forests is a major world export and financial benefit for the region. The bark from the oak is harvested every nine years, using traditional methods.

Two axemen, or "hachas," remove the bark of a cork oak at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, July 3, 2013.

Jesus Rios Nogales, 49, and Ezequiel Rodriguez, 21, remove a pile of cork planks from boiling water at a factory in El Pedroso, Spain, July 2, 2013.

The factory in El Pedroso processes raw cork planks through traditional methods. The best planks are sourced for wine bottling corks while the rest are processed into agglomerate cork.

Bark collector, or "recogeor," Juan Ortega, 43, carries the bark of a cork oak at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, July 3, 2013.

A woman works at a factory producing natural cork washers in Cazalla de la Sierra, near Seville, Spain, July 2, 2013.

Jesus Rios Nogales, 49, removes a pile of cork planks from boiling at a factory in El Pedroso, July 2, 2013.

Wine corks are gathered in a factory in Bollullos Par del Condado, Spain, July 2, 2013.

Modesto Sanchez, 57, and Ezequiel Rodriguez, 21, prepare a pile of cork planks for boiling at a factory in El Pedroso, July 2, 2013.

Joaquin Chacon 55, cuts cork planks at a factory in El Pedroso, July 2, 2013.

A mule man, or "arriero," walks with his mules at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, July 3, 2013.

Los Alcornocales Natural Park is the leading region for cork production.

Axeman Miguel Jimenez Sanchez removes the bark of a cork oak at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, July 3, 2013.

Axeman Juan Manuel Barranco, 23, and Francisco Javier Jimenez, 31, remove the bark of a cork oak at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, July 3, 2013.

Cork planks are stacked at a factory in El Pedroso, July 2, 2013.

A bark collector, or "recogeor," carries cork bark as a mule stands next to a tree at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, July 3, 2013.

Cork planks are stacked at a factory in El Pedroso, July 2, 2013.

Modesto Sanchez, 57, prepares piles of cork planks for boiling at a factory in El Pedroso, July 2, 2013.

Gabriel Jimenez, 30, loads a mule with bark from cork oaks at Parque Natural de los Alcornocales, July 3, 2013.

Gloria Maria Medina, 25, (left) and Cecilia Gil, 49, select natural cork washers at a factory in Cazalla de la Sierra, July 2, 2013.

Natural wine corks are stored in a factory in Bollullos Par del Condado, Spain, July 2, 2013.

A waiter removes the cork from a bottle of wine at a bar in Alcala de los Gazules, Spain, July 2, 2013.