Ports de Tortosa-Beseit
Encyclopedia
Ports de Tortosa-Beseit (ˈpɔɾts ðe toɾˈtoza beˈzejt), 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 like the Matarranya
and the Sénia
have their source in these mountains.
(Peak of the Three Kings), where the borders of the ancient Kingdoms of Valencia
, Catalonia
and Aragon
meet, there is a cairn
marking the meeting point of the ancient three kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon
.
It is mostly a limestone
massif, with many steep cliffs, jagged peaks, deep valleys, shafts and caves.
The area is mostly uninhabited except for small villages. These mountains were one of the last redoubt
s of the Spanish Maquis
in the 1940s and 50s.
s in Europe, as well as Spanish Ibex
, Roe Deer
, Wild Boar, European badgers, common genet
s, among others, have their habitat in these lonely mountains.
The vegetation of the Ports is rich and varied. Besides the Mediterranean species, there are also species belonging to Alpine flora
and colder temperate regions at high altitudes and in protected valleys.
, Serra de les Deveres, Serra de l'Escaleta, Serra d'Encanader, Serra del Pedregal, Serra del Coc and Serra de l'Espina
. The latter, located at its northern end, connects with the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
.
(1447 m), the highest point, Castell de l'Airosa, Tossal d'en Cervera
, Mola del Boix, Mola del Boixet, el Castellar, la Portella del Pinell, Curullons, el Negrell, Punta de l'Àliga, Farrubio, Penyaflor, Mola de Catí, Tossal dels Tres Reis
, Tossa Blanca, Roques de Benet
, Penyagalera
, Mola de Lli, Tossal de Tall Nou, Tossal de l'Espada, la Ballestera, Mola de la Paridera, Muntanyola, La Tossa, Mola Castellona, Tossal de Joan Gran, Tossal de la Forca, Tossal d'en Grillo, Muntanya de Santa Bàrbara
, L'Espina and La Moleta d'Alfara.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
mountain massif located at the north-eastern end of the Sistema Ibérico
Sistema Ibérico
The Sistema Ibérico or Iberian System is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.It is a vast and complex system of mountain chains and massifs located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, but reaching almost the Mediterranean coast in the Land of Valencia in the east.From...
, a complex system of mountain ranges and massifs in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. Its highest point is Mont Caro
Mont Caro
Mont Caro or Caro is the highest mountain of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Catalonia, Spain. It has an altitude of 1441 metres above sea level. There are two large antennas and a Virgin Mary shrine on top of the summit....
, 1,441 m. Rivers like the Matarranya
Matarranya River
The Matarranya River is a river in the provinces of Teruel and Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. It begins its course at 1,200 m nordeast of the Tossal d'Encanader, Ports de Beseit. limestone massif near La Pobla de Benifassà....
and the Sénia
Sénia River
The Sénia River is a river in the provinces of Castellón and Tarragona, Spain. It begins its course at 1,200 m in the Barranc del Salt, Ports de Beseit. limestone massif near La Pobla de Benifassà....
have their source in these mountains.
Description
At the 1350 m high Tossal dels Tres ReisTossal dels Tres Reis
Tossal dels Tres Reis or Tossal del Rei is a mountain of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit massif, Spain. It has an altitude of 1350 metres above sea level....
(Peak of the Three Kings), where the borders of the ancient Kingdoms of Valencia
Kingdom of Valencia
The Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...
, Catalonia
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...
and Aragon
Kingdom of Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon was a medieval and early modern kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain...
meet, there is a cairn
Cairn
Cairn is a term used mainly in the English-speaking world for a man-made pile of stones. It comes from the or . Cairns are found all over the world in uplands, on moorland, on mountaintops, near waterways and on sea cliffs, and also in barren desert and tundra areas...
marking the meeting point of the ancient three kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon Corona d'Aragón Corona d'Aragó Corona Aragonum controlling a large portion of the present-day eastern Spain and southeastern France, as well as some of the major islands and mainland possessions stretching across the Mediterranean as far as Greece...
.
It is mostly a limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
massif, with many steep cliffs, jagged peaks, deep valleys, shafts and caves.
The area is mostly uninhabited except for small villages. These mountains were one of the last redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
s of the Spanish Maquis
Spanish Maquis
The Spanish Maquis were Spanish guerrillas exiled in France after the Spanish Civil War who continued to fight against the Franco regime until the early 1960s, carrying out sabotage, robberies , occupations of the Spanish Embassy in France and assassinations of Francoists, as well as contributing...
in the 1940s and 50s.
Ecology
One of the largest colonies of griffon vultureGriffon Vulture
The Griffon Vulture is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.The Griffon Vulture is long with a wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh and females typically weigh , while in the Indian subspecies the vultures average...
s in Europe, as well as Spanish Ibex
Spanish ibex
The Iberian ibex, Spanish ibex, Spanish wild goat, or Iberian wild goat is a species of ibex with four subspecies. Of these, two can still be found on the Iberian Peninsula, but the remaining two are now extinct. The Portuguese subspecies became extinct in 1892 and the Pyrenean subspecies became...
, Roe Deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
, Wild Boar, European badgers, common genet
Common Genet
The Common Genet , also known as the Small-spotted Genet or European Genet, is a mammal from the order Carnivora, related to civets and linsangs. The most far-ranging of all the fourteen species of genet, it can be found throughout Africa, parts of the Middle East, and in Europe in Spain, Portugal,...
s, among others, have their habitat in these lonely mountains.
The vegetation of the Ports is rich and varied. Besides the Mediterranean species, there are also species belonging to Alpine flora
Alpine flora
Alpine flora may refer to* Alpine tundra, a community of plants that live at high altitude* The alpine plants that live within that community...
and colder temperate regions at high altitudes and in protected valleys.
Mountain Ranges
The Ports Massif comprises several mountain ranges, like the Muntanyes de Benifassà, Serra de les Falconeres, Serra del Àguila, Serra de Rastell, Los Curullons, Moles de Raudorar, Serra de la Fortalesa, Serra de Caro, Serra de la Puca, Serra de Rafalgari, Serra de PaülsSerra de Paüls
Serra de Paüls is a mountain range in the northern side of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Catalonia, Spain. The highest summit, Punta de l'Aigua has an altitude of 1,091.6 metres above sea level. The central part of the range is known as Montsagre de Paüls....
, Serra de les Deveres, Serra de l'Escaleta, Serra d'Encanader, Serra del Pedregal, Serra del Coc and Serra de l'Espina
Serra de l'Espina
Serra de l'Espina is a limestone mountain chain located at the north-eastern end of the Iberian System. It connects the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit mountain massif with the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range....
. The latter, located at its northern end, connects with the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
Catalan Pre-Coastal Range
The Catalan Pre-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 Catalan Transversal Range and the Serra de l'Espina, which connects with the Ports de...
.
Peaks
Some of the main peaks of the massif are: Mont CaroMont Caro
Mont Caro or Caro is the highest mountain of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Catalonia, Spain. It has an altitude of 1441 metres above sea level. There are two large antennas and a Virgin Mary shrine on top of the summit....
(1447 m), the highest point, Castell de l'Airosa, Tossal d'en Cervera
Tossal d'en Cervera
Tossal d'en Cervera or Pic de Cervera is a mountain in Spain. It is located between the municipal terms of La Sénia, in the Montsià comarca, and La Pobla de Benifassà, Baix Maestrat, Valencian Community....
, Mola del Boix, Mola del Boixet, el Castellar, la Portella del Pinell, Curullons, el Negrell, Punta de l'Àliga, Farrubio, Penyaflor, Mola de Catí, Tossal dels Tres Reis
Tossal dels Tres Reis
Tossal dels Tres Reis or Tossal del Rei is a mountain of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit massif, Spain. It has an altitude of 1350 metres above sea level....
, Tossa Blanca, Roques de Benet
Roques de Benet
Roques de Benet is a compact group of sheer rocky outcrops in the northwestern side of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Catalonia, Spain. The highest summit has an altitude of 1,007.2 metres above sea level.-See also:*Ports de Tortosa-Beseit...
, Penyagalera
Penyagalera
Penyagalera is a rocky mountain in the northern side of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Aragon, Spain. Punta de Penyagalera, the highest summit, has an altitude of 1,034.4 metres above sea level....
, Mola de Lli, Tossal de Tall Nou, Tossal de l'Espada, la Ballestera, Mola de la Paridera, Muntanyola, La Tossa, Mola Castellona, Tossal de Joan Gran, Tossal de la Forca, Tossal d'en Grillo, Muntanya de Santa Bàrbara
Muntanya de Santa Bàrbara
Muntanya de Santa Bàrbara is a mountain that is part of the northwestern foothills of the Ports de Tortosa-Beseit, Catalonia, Spain. It has an altitude of 751.3 metres above sea level....
, L'Espina and La Moleta d'Alfara.
Protected areas
There are two natural parks in the area; there is no protected area on the Aragonese side:- Parc Natural dels Ports on the Catalan side
- Parc Natural de la Tinença de Benifassà on the Valencian side.
See also
- Beseit
- Matarraña/Matarranya
- Tinença de BenifassàTinença de BenifassàTinença de Benifassà is a historical comarca of the Valencian Community, Spain. It is nowadays part of the Baix Maestrat, one of the present-day Comarques of the Valencian Community, even though commercial and human relationships have been stronger with Els Ports in the west, the Terres de l'Ebre...
- List of mountains in Aragon
- List of mountains in the Valencian Community
- List of mountains in Catalonia