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Sierras de Tejeda - Almijara y Alhama natural
park
The 40,600 hectares of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Sierras
Natural Park (Parque Natural Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y
Alhama), is an impressive mountainous mass which forms a geographical
barrier between the provinces of Malaga and Granada. In the
former province it is the highest section of the Axarquia
region, while in the latter it descends to Alhama de Granada.
It is home to Tejeda and Almira National Game Reserve (Reserva
Nacional de Caza de Tejeda y Almijara).
In the western extreme of Sierra Tejeda, solid limestone
predominates, with the presence of some Eocene terrain made
up of sandstone and marly limestone. Sierra Almijara, the
largest and most easterly, contains dolomitic marble formations
which constitute one of the foremost examples of this type
of mass in the country.
The landscape is rugged and craggy, with large, pronounced
slopes alternating with the characteristic rows of summits
which run parallel to the coast, marking out valleys and deep
ravines. One of the areas with largest number of caves in
the province of Malaga is to be found here. Sierra Tejeda
has the highest peak in the area, the famous La Maroma (2.080
metres).
Flora
Forests of black Mediterranean pines (Pinus pinaster) and
Pinus nigra. Mediterranean juniper scrub. Forests of holm
oaks, cork oaks, gall oaks and Pyreness oaks. Brushwood containing
mountain brooms, maples, service trees, yews and Scots pines,
barberries, honyesuckles and rosaceous mountain plants. Sub-desert
brambles and marine cliff vegetation, consisting of areas
of gravel and dolomitic sands.
Fauna
The best-known animal in these mountain ranges is the mountain
goat. Birdlife is also worthy of mention, with the golden
eagle, Hieraetus fasciatus, Aquila heliaca and Circaetus gallicus
eagles, the peregrine falcon and goshawk, nightjar, black,
grey and golden wheater, Monticola saxatilis and Monticola
solitarius. The common squirrel is a recent arrival
Towns and villages
Malaga: Alcaucin, Canillas de Aceituno, Canillas de Albaida,
Competa, Frigiliana, Nerja, Salares, Sedella.
Granada: Alhama de Granada, Arenas del Rey, Jayena and Otivar
Sierra
de Tejeda Natural Park Map
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