Region: Andalucia
Provinces: Granada / Málaga
Declared a Natural Park: 1999
Park surface area: 40,663 hectares
Points of interest: The parkland is limited in the south east by the Mediterranean sea and rises in craggy mountains towards the north west. 52% of the park is in Granada province with 48% in Málaga province. The combination of altitudes and from sea shore to the peak of La Maroma at 2,080m encourages a diversity of vegetation, including some endemic species. Add to this that the geological structure changes between limestone giving rise to dolomitic marble, quartzite and gneiss, which each hold different plant ranges. When the marble is eroded by the weather white sand is left. The plentiful wildlife is dominated by Wild mountain goats and Eagles.
The area in Málaga province is known as Axarquia and the famous cave of Nerja is situated here. Canillas de Aceituno area is replete with natural caves, the main one being the Fajara, four kilometers away, with tunnels as long as 500m in length. Read more about the Axarquia
Resin extraction from pine tree trunks and charcoal made from partially burning felled or pollarded trees are traditional land uses. Irrigated land is used to grow vegetables, citrus and fruit trees. There are also vineyards and almond groves. Many farmhouses have areas for drying out the raisins. There are traditional crafts products of marble and esparto grass. Flora:
The exposed high, rocky slopes hold what is known as the hedgehog zone due to the low level prickly plants including Vella spinosa, Prunus prostrata, Erinacea anthyllis, Astragalus granatensis, Echinospartum boissieri, Hormathophylla spinosa and Genista lobelii.
On the upper slopes of the sierras is Mediterranean woodland with Junipers, Cork, Holm, Gall and Pyrenean oaks. At one time dense areas of Yew tree (Taxus baccata) grew but have been cut back to allow more grazing. The remaining ones are the best example in Andalucia and the furthest south.
Some of the plants that grow on the dolomitic sand are Toadflax (Linaria amoi), Knapweeds (Centaurea bombycina and Centaurea prolongi), Wallflower (Erysimum myriophyllum), Kidney vetch (Anthyllis tejedensis), Hippocrepis eriocarpa, Fairy foxglove (Erinus alpinus), Silene boryi subsp tejedensis, Butterwort (Pinguicola submediterranea), Hieracium texedense, Purple columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris), Saxifrage (Saxifraga erioblasta), Draba hispanica, Andryala agardhii, Odontites longiflora, Milkwort (Polygala boissieri) and Iberis grossi.
Pines tree woods are dominated by Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) with Stone pine (Pinus pinea) Black pine (Pinus nigra subsp. clusiana) and occasional Joint Pines (Ephedra fragilis).
The shrubs and undergrowth include Dwarf fan palm (Chamaerops humilis), Maytenus senegalensis, Osyris quadripartita, Cneorum tricoccum and Boxwood (Buxus balerarica). Characteristic of the coastal zones are, Whitebeam (Sorbus aria), Amelanchier ovalis, Cotoneaster granatensis, Adenocarpus decorticans, Quercus pyrenaica and Acer granatense. Fauna:
There are large numbers of Spanish ibex which have made an excellent recovery in numbers since hunting of them has been strictly controlled. Another success story is the Red squirrel which only arrived in recent years but has already spread to both extremes of the mountain range.
Most noteworthy are the population of eagles including Golden, Bonelli’s, Booted and Short-toed eagles, other raptors are Peregrine falcon, Goshawk and Kestrel. Listen out for nocturnal Red-necked Nightjar and Nightjar.
On the rocky outcrops look for Black wheatear, Black-eared wheatear and Wheatear as well as Alpine accentor, Rock bunting, Rock thrush and Blue rock thrush. Near water are Nightingales, Golden orioles, Warblers, Dippers and Grey wagtails. Also in the Area:
Once a famous Moorish stronghold, the town of Alhama de Granada has hot sulphurous spa waters which reach over 44C.
Nerja cave was discovered in 1959 and is 4,823 metres long. The lower galleries are open to the public. There are 8 or more halls with the largest being The Hall of the Cataclysm which is more than 100 metres long and 50 metres wide and over 30 metres high. Wall paintings found inside the caves date from the Paleolithic and post-Paleolithic periods while skeletal remains and artifacts show that they were inhabited from about 25,000 BC up until the Bronze Age. Information/Visitors Centers:
Alhama de Granada, the Town council building-Ayuntamiento.
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