Serra Mariola Natural Park | |
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Parc Natural de la Serra de Mariola (Valencian) Parque Natural de la Sierra de Mariola (Spanish) | |
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Path to the Montcabrer | |
Location | Alcoy, Valencian Community, Spain |
Nearest city | Valencian Community: Alcoy, Cocentaina, Muro de Alcoy, Agres, Alfafara, Bocairent and Banyeres de Mariola. |
Coordinates | 38°44′1″N0°35′30″W / 38.73361°N 0.59167°W |
Area | 17.257 ha |
Established | 2002 |
Governing body | Generalitat Valenciana |
The Serra Mariola Natural Park [1] (Valencian : Parc Natural de la Serra de Mariola; Spanish : Parque Natural de la Sierra de Mariola) [lower-alpha 1] is a mountain range in the Valencian Community, Spain, one of the most peripheral offsprings of the Baetic System. Most of its territory is included in a natural park founded in 2002, covering an area of 17,257 ha. The park is surrounded by the towns of Cocentaina and Bocairent and the cities of Ontinyent and Alcoy. [2]
It has a rectangular shape and altitudes higher than 1,000 metres, the highest peak being the Montcabrer, at 1,389 metres high. To the north the Benicadell Mountain Range has a peak bearing the same name and is 1,104 metres high. The Serra is predominantly composed of limestone. The climate is largely Mediterranean.
Covering these mountain ranges are some 200 or more different aromatic and medicinal plants with hundreds of different trees, which include a variety of yew unique to this area.
Alicante is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the Valencian Community. It is the second most populated Valencian province. Likewise, the second and third biggest cities in the Valencian Community—Alicante and Elche, respectively—are located in this province.
Banyeres de Mariola, known simply as Banyeres, is a settlement and a municipality in the north of the province of Alicante (Spain), 860 metres above sea level, with a population of 7,500. The main employer is the local textile industry. The town has a Moorish castle that dates from 1214, and is surrounded by mountains, almond and olive trees.
Cocentaina is a locality and municipality in the comarca of Comtat, in the province of Alicante, Spain. The village is located between the mountainous Serra de Mariola national park and the Serpis river. Cocentaina is conveniently situated for both road and mountain biking. Many of the roads are used for training by professional teams, and several roads have been used by the Vuelta a España.
Muro de Alcoy or Muro d'Alcoi, also briefly called Muro is a town and municipality located in the comarca of Comtat, in the province of Alicante, Spain, lying at the foot of the Serra de Mariola. As of 2009, it has a total population of c. 8,900 inhabitants. The economy of Muro de Alcoy is based on textile industry, manufacture of plastic products and furniture and agriculture.
Alcalà de Xivert is a town and municipality in the Baix Maestrat comarca, province of Castelló, Valencian Community, Spain.
Agres is a town and municipality in the comarca of Comtat, in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.
Onil is a town and municipality located in the comarca of L'Alcoià, in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain. It has an area of 48.41 km2 and, according to the 2006 census, a total population of 7466 inhabitants and a population density of 154.22 inhabitants/km2. Onil is located next to the mountain called Serra d'Onil in the Serra de Mariola, 36 km from Alicante city.
The Iberian System is one of the major systems of mountain ranges in Spain. It consists of a vast and complex area of mostly relatively high and rugged mountain chains and massifs located in the central region of the Iberian Peninsula, but reaching almost the Mediterranean coast in the Valencian Community in the east.
Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, also known as Ports de Beseit, or simply as Els Ports or Lo Port by locals, is a limestone mountain massif located at the north-eastern end of the Sistema Ibérico, a complex system of mountain ranges and massifs in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. Its highest point is Mont Caro, 1,441 m. Rivers such as the Matarranya and the Cenia have their source in these mountains.
The Serpis is a short coastal river in the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, in Spain.
Serra d'Irta Natural Park is a natural park in Valencian Community), Southern Spain. It contains 7,744 hectares of land, as well as a shoreline of marine nature reserve of the adjacent Mediterranean Sea. It was declared a protected area in 2002.
Serra d'Irta is an 18.8 km long mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain. Its highest point is Pico Campanelles.
Serra d'Espadà is a 51 km (32 mi) long mountain range in the Alt Palància, Alt Millars and Plana Baixa comarcas, in the Province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain. Its highest point is La Ràpita.
Serra Calderona, often referred to as La Calderona is a 49 km (30 mi) long mountain range in the Camp de Túria, Horta Nord and Alt Palància comarcas of the Valencian Community, between the provinces of Castelló and Valencia Spain.
Serra d'En Celler is a mountain range of the Valencian Community, Spain. Its main peaks are 1,281 m high Tossal de la Nevera and Tossal d'Orenga.
Serra d'En Galceran is a mountain range of the Valencian Community, Spain.
Serra de la Valldàngel or Serra de la Vall d'Àngel,, is a mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Castellón Province, Valencian Community, Spain.
Serra del Turmell, also known as Serra del Mont Turmell, is an over 12 km (7 mi) long mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain.
The Barxell Castle, located in the municipality of Alcoy, Alicante, Spain, is a 13th-century medieval building which stands on a rocky mound in the middle of a pine forest. It is next to the CV-795 road, between Alcoy and Banyeres de Mariola. It is located in the rural place of Barxell at 800 metres altitude. It is very close to the "Solanetes" which had a small population in the Muslim era.
The Font Roja Natural Park is a natural park situated in Alcoy, in the autonomous community of Valencia, in eastern Spain.