Gavarres
Encyclopedia
Les Gavarres or Massís de les Gavarres is a mountain massif in Catalonia
, Spain
. It is part of the Catalan Coastal Range
. The highest point is Puig d'Arques
, 532 m. Other important summits are Mare de Déu dels Àngels (485 m) and Santa Pellaia (353 m).
The mountains run broadly north-west, South-East in the Costa Brava
region. They meet the sea between Castell-Platja d'Aro
and Palamós
. The range runs as far as Girona
. There are a number of villages in the mountains including Romanyà de la Selva
and Santa Pellaia. The mountains also include the hermitage of Mare de Déu dels Àngels. There are views of both the Sea and Pyrenees
. The mountains are generally formed from granite
rock, an extension from the volcanic area arount Olot
. The mountains are covered in a dense forest of cork oak
, holm oak
, pine
and other vegetation. Most of the Gavarres is a nature reserve
.
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, 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 part of the Catalan Coastal Range
Catalan Coastal Range
The Catalan Coastal Range is a system of mountain ranges running parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast in Catalonia. It is part of the Catalan Mediterranean System. Its main axis runs between the Foix River and the Roses Gulf and the average altitude is around 500 m...
. The highest point is Puig d'Arques
Puig d'Arques
Puig d'Arques is a mountain of Catalonia, Spain. It has an altitude of 532 metres above sea level....
, 532 m. Other important summits are Mare de Déu dels Àngels (485 m) and Santa Pellaia (353 m).
The mountains run broadly north-west, South-East in the Costa Brava
Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is a coastal region of northeastern Catalonia, Spain, in the comarques of Alt Empordà, Baix Empordà and Selva, in the province of Girona. Costa is the Catalan and Spanish word for 'coast', and Brava means 'rugged' or 'wild'...
region. They meet the sea between Castell-Platja d'Aro
Castell-Platja d'Aro
Castell-Platja d'Aro is a municapality in the middle of the Costa Brava in Catalonia, Spain. It is formed from two parts: Castell d'Aro is the ancient village 3 km inland build around a medieval castle and fortified church on the road from Platja d'Aro to Santa Cristina d'Aro...
and Palamós
Palamós
Palamós is a town and municipality in the Mediterranean Costa Brava, located in the comarca of Baix Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain....
. The range runs as far as Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
. There are a number of villages in the mountains including Romanyà de la Selva
Santa Cristina d'Aro
Santa Cristina d'Aro is a small town in the Aro valley at the junction of the road from Girona/Barcelona to Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Palamós. It is home to a number of workers in the nearby holiday resorts. The Costa Brava golf course is on the outskirts of the town.The municipality includes...
and Santa Pellaia. The mountains also include the hermitage of Mare de Déu dels Àngels. There are views of both the Sea and Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
. The mountains are generally formed from granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
rock, an extension from the volcanic area arount Olot
Olot
Olot is the capital of the comarca of the Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.- Etymology :The etymology of Olot is not clear and there are several hypotheses...
. The mountains are covered in a dense forest of cork oak
Cork Oak
Quercus suber, commonly called the Cork Oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section Quercus sect. Cerris. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as cork flooring. It is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa.It grows to up to 20 m,...
, holm oak
Holm Oak
Quercus ilex, the Holm Oak or Holly Oak is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It takes its name from holm, an ancient name for holly...
, pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and other vegetation. Most of the Gavarres is a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
.