Baix Vinalopó
Encyclopedia
The Baix Vinalopó (ˈbajʒ vinaloˈpo, ˈbaʒ vinaloˈpo; ) is a comarca in the province of Alicante (Valencian Community
, Spain
). It is bordered by the comarques of Vinalopó Mitjà
and Alacantí
on the north and Vega Baja del Segura
on the south. Its capital is the city of Elx/Elche, with a population of some 230,000 people live. The other major towns in the comarca are Crevillent
and Santa Pola
.
Vinalopó
river flows through this comarca giving its name to it (Baix Vinalopó is Valencian for "Lower Vinalopó"), even though nowadays is just a tiny stream more than a proper river. The territory is mostly flat except for some of the last ranges belonging to the Baetic System which appear here near the border with the neighbouring comarcas Vinalopó Mitjà
, following a general southwest-northeast trend. The highest peaks are found in the Serra de Crevillent
, a mountain range close to Crevillent, being its highest the Sant Gaietà with its 816 metres, a local hiking attraction.
Its climate
is dry, with scarce rainfalls—below the Mediterranean climate
threshold—which happen mostly in Autumn and Spring amounting an average of 250–300 mm per year and showing relatively warm mean temperatures. Among the herb
aceous species, esparto
and shrub
deserve to be mentioned due to their industrial value in the past. Some important natural places are the swamps in the lower part of the comarca known as El Fondo Natural Park
and the Salines de Santa Pola
Natural Park, both Ramsar site
s.
The comarca is highly industrial, especially in its capital, Elx/Elche, and also in the town of Crevillent. Agriculture is also an important activity in the area. In the coastline around Santa Pola the main activity is tourism, fisheries and sea salt.
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). It is bordered by the comarques of Vinalopó Mitjà
Vinalopó Mitjà
Vinalopó Mitjà is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.-Municipalities:*Algueña*Aspe*Elda*El Fondó de les Neus*Hondón de los Frailes*Monforte del Cid*Monóvar/Monòver*Novelda*Petrer*Pinoso*La Romana...
and Alacantí
Alacantí
Alacantí is a comarca in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is bordered by the comarques of Marina Baixa and Alcoià to the north and Baix Vinalopó to the south....
on the north and Vega Baja del Segura
Vega Baja del Segura
Vega Baja del Segura is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.To the North its neighbouring comarcas are the Baix Vinalopó and Vinalopó Mitjà...
on the south. Its capital is the city of Elx/Elche, with a population of some 230,000 people live. The other major towns in the comarca are Crevillent
Crevillent
Crevillent is a town and municipality located in the Alicante province, part of the Valencian Community, Spain. It is situated in the comarca of Baix Vinalopó, and lies at the foot of the hill range known locally as Serra de Crevillent...
and Santa Pola
Santa Pola
Santa Pola is a coastal town located in the comarca of Baix Vinalopó in the Valencian Community, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Vinalopó
Vinalopó
The Vinalopó is a small river flowing through the Alicante province, of Spain. It flows from north to south and, with a length of 81 km., it is the longest of the rivers which flows for its entire length within the limits of this province...
river flows through this comarca giving its name to it (Baix Vinalopó is Valencian for "Lower Vinalopó"), even though nowadays is just a tiny stream more than a proper river. The territory is mostly flat except for some of the last ranges belonging to the Baetic System which appear here near the border with the neighbouring comarcas Vinalopó Mitjà
Vinalopó Mitjà
Vinalopó Mitjà is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain.-Municipalities:*Algueña*Aspe*Elda*El Fondó de les Neus*Hondón de los Frailes*Monforte del Cid*Monóvar/Monòver*Novelda*Petrer*Pinoso*La Romana...
, following a general southwest-northeast trend. The highest peaks are found in the Serra de Crevillent
Serra de Crevillent
The Serra de Crevillent is a mountain range in the Baetic System, southern Spain. It spans the region of Murcia and the province of Alicante. The highest peak is Sant Gaietà at 835 meters, near the town of Crevillent....
, a mountain range close to Crevillent, being its highest the Sant Gaietà with its 816 metres, a local hiking attraction.
Its climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
is dry, with scarce rainfalls—below the Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
threshold—which happen mostly in Autumn and Spring amounting an average of 250–300 mm per year and showing relatively warm mean temperatures. Among the herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
aceous species, esparto
Esparto
Esparto, or esparto grass, also known as "halfah grass" or "needle grass", Macrochloa tenacissima and Stipa tenacissima, is a perennial grass grown in northwest Africa and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula employed for crafts .-Esparto paper:It is also used for fiber production for paper...
and shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
deserve to be mentioned due to their industrial value in the past. Some important natural places are the swamps in the lower part of the comarca known as El Fondo Natural Park
El Hondo
The Natural Park of El Fondo is located within the municipal boundaries of Elx/Elche and Crevillent both of which are within the comarca of Baix Vinalopó in the south of the Valencian Community in the east of Spain...
and the Salines de Santa Pola
Santa Pola
Santa Pola is a coastal town located in the comarca of Baix Vinalopó in the Valencian Community, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea...
Natural Park, both Ramsar site
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
s.
The comarca is highly industrial, especially in its capital, Elx/Elche, and also in the town of Crevillent. Agriculture is also an important activity in the area. In the coastline around Santa Pola the main activity is tourism, fisheries and sea salt.