NATURAL PARK “Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama”

Area: 40.663 hectares

The Natural Park ·”Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama”, between Málaga and Granada, it’s characterized by its diversity. In a short space we go from the coastline to the highest top of the province,  the Maroma peak, with 2060 m of altitude , an impressive mass of green schists and dolomite marbles, with intercalations of micaschists from the Triasic Age.

Along the way we find a very rough relief  and its lithology is composed of quartzite, schist and gneis,

dolomite marbles, travertine and so on…presenting the bio-climatic termomediterranean floors to the oromediterranean.

There are a wide variety of vegetation and landscapes, with a rich fauna, with one of the most important population of wild goats, as well as a great number of species of predatory. To enjoy them there are a big number of routes that cross the most interesting corners, with narrow passes, caves, forests, waterfalls and high mountain peaks. 

This zone was the scene of many historic events  between Moors and Christians, bandits and legends, made and transmitted by the inhabitants of the white villages that surround the park, that keep the Moorish character of their streets and buildings.

NATURAL RESERVE “Cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo”

Area: 1.800 hectares of land.

The Natural Reserve  “Cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo” comprises a coastline of 12 kms. Between Málaga and Granada, limiting to the North with the road N-340 and going one mile into the Mediterranean Sea. It’s known by its big cliffs,  up to 75 ms of altitude, product of the erosion caused by the sea, some of them crowned by towers that formed part of the system of Arabic  surveillance system that covered all the Eastern Costa del Sol. The reasons why this is a protected area is because the presence of several endangered species, in spite of its small area.

On the other way, the maritime mile has an important number of marine species,  with Posidonia, Zoostera and Cimodecea, that form a habitat that houses numerous marine species and a complex biological organization, as well as being area of spawning of many fish species. For all that, this place also has the category ZEPIM ( Specially Protected Area of Interest for the Mediterranean). To enjoy of this spectacular formation several submarine routes that cross the prairies of Posidonia and the walls filled of chorals, sponges and anemones of thousand colors, have been designed.

NATURAL PARK “Montes de Málaga”

The origin of this Park is the reforestation of Aleppo Pine that were made in the basin of the River Guadalmedina, from the 30s, to avoid the floods that Málaga had suffered during several centuries, since the Mediterranean forest was removed to cultivate vines and almond trees. It’s a formation that reaches 1.100 ms of altitude, with steep slopes in a big part of the zone. In the northern part of the park, we find the Aleppo pine mixed with holm oaks, cork trees and Portuguese oaks, that were part of the original forest.

At the moment a management of clarified of the pine is being

RURAL TOURISM

To travel through the region and enjoy all this, a net of  inter-municipal thematic routes has been designed, urban routes inside each village and paths that cross the natural reserves, rivers, mountains and ranges of La Axarquia.There are many tracks to cross, histories to listen and monuments to visit, and to rest and relax there are rural houses, decorated in a traditional way, and with all kind of comfort.

Definitely, a very complete  alternative that offers a fusion of natural and cultural tourism, to escape from the routine and to be carried away for the wonderful mixture of Muslim and Christian.

WATER

The water is an essential resource for the man, and it has always been a source of richness, conditioning the human activities. In the Axarquia, the water has had a key role in the distribution of these activities. Most of this Region presents a lithology formed by low permeable materials, although the mountainous formation of the north and eastern zone present a very different situation. These formations are formed of carbonate rocks of high permeability, being an important aquifer. 

Under these rocks we find again impermeable materials, in whose contact the water arises to the exterior, giving rise to a big amount of water births, around them many of the first settlers of the villages of the Axarquia established their houses.  Water is also responsible of the formation of one of the most important caves of this type, Nerja’s Cave, an impressive karst  formation , caused when the water dissolved the carbonated rocks, and a later sedimentation of stalactites and stalagmites that in the Nerja’s Cave reach unimaginable dimensions. Another example is the Cave of the Treasure, with a smaller dimension but with the peculiarity of flowing into the sea.

The phenomenon of the dissolution of the carbonates also happens in the surface, causing the cramming of the rivers, like River Chillar, in which there are narrow passes of great beauty with a very peculiar vegetation of great value.

Thanks to the growth of the population at La Axarquia and the increase of the demand of this resource the Dam of La Viñuela was built, which is a big sheet of water to be  exploded by the tourism and that characterizes the landscape. 

COASTLINE

The Region of Axarquia also comprises the Eastern Costa del Sol, formed by wonderful natural beaches and impressive cliffs of great biological and landscaping value.

These waters house an important fishing resource,  that was the reason of Phoenician and Roman settlers along the coast, where still we can find remains of salting houses, factories of garum and even a small port.  Most of the urban villages along the coast came up thanks to the families of the fishers, especially Rincón de la Victoria, Torre del Mar and Nerja, that from the 70’s experienced a strong growth based in the tourism of sun and beach.

The most remarkable place in the coastline is the Natural Reserve of the Cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo,  that in its crystal clear waters lodge important prairies of phanerogan marine species, which generate a complex ecosystem that have big banks of fishes of all species.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

In the past, the hydraulic energy was used through  mills, but the big advance was made with the installation of several  channels of stations of production of mini-hydraulic energy for the supply of isolated groups. With the improvement of the Power Supply they fell into disuse, but with the increase of the price of electricity and the heyday of the alternatives energies due to the great concern for the greenhouse effect , is thought again of starting up these stations and even elaborate new projects in another places.

The  thermal solar  energy is the one that until now has had more acceptance, especially in the rural houses to heat  water and  swimming-pools. As for the photovoltaic solar energy, it’s beginning to work for the installation of solar farms, as this zone has good conditions for its development. The wind power also has a big potential, especially in the area of La Maroma,  the highest peak of the province, with 2060 meters of altitude and strong winds, but apart from the strong visual impact, this peak belongs to the Natural Park of Sierras Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama, which is house of many species of raptors birds that could be seriously affected.

Regarding the energy of the bio-mass, the possibility of the use of the residues from the oil industry and viticultural. In the case of the residues originated by the pruning of the cultivations or the cleaning of the mountains wouldn’t be worthwhile, as the energetic balance is unfavorable.

RESIDUES

The concern for the environment is  nowadays  a more extended feeling, and in that sense the Region of La Axarquia hasn’t fallen behind.  The selective collection of garbage it’s a reality in the most part of the municipalities of Axarquia, as this practice, is not only respectful with the environment but a source of income for the Town Halls  as well.

In some municipalities have been installed subterranean containers, improving the appearance of their streets and eliminating the bad smells that come from them.

The construction of a plant of treatments of rubbles is planned, to give service to all the Region, and put them in value, as they can generate serious problems of contamination of grounds, aquifers and superficial waters.