Rocha da Pena

Rocha da Pena
height	479 m
location	Algarve , Portugal
Coordinates	37 ° 15 '14 " N , 8 ° 6' 33" W Coordinates: 37 ° 15 '14 " N , 8 ° 6' 33" W.
Type	Table Mountain
rock	limestone

The Rocha da Pena is a table mountain in the Portuguese region of Algarve . In order to preserve its species-rich flora and fauna as well as cultural artefacts , it was declared a landscape protection area in 2008.

Geography and geology

The Rocha da Pena is located in the Barrocal , the stretch of land between the coastal region ( Litoral ) and the mountains behind ( Serra ), in the Loulé district . At the foot of the mountain are the villages of Penino and Rocha. The summit plateau is about two kilometers long, up to 500 meters wide and up to 479 meters high. In the north and south it drops steeply 50 meters. When the visibility is good, the view extends to the Atlantic in the south, to the Serra de Monchique in the west and to the Serra do Calderão in the north .

The mountain consists of particularly hard limestone and shows typical karst features such as cart fields , sinkholes , polja and caves . To the east of Rocha da Pena there are some mica slate mounds .

Flora and fauna

The diversity of the flora in the Rocha da Pena nature reserve is high. It is believed that here including the only on the grow more than 500 different plant species, the Iberian Peninsula occurring Peony Paeonia broteri , growing only in Portugal daffodil Narcissus calcicola and limited to the Barrocal Bellevalia dubia subsp. hackelii , a subspecies of Bellevalia dubia . Medicinal plants such as borage and Montpellier rock rose can be found here as well as the aromatic plants rosemary and crested lavender . The carob tree and the common fig are of economic importance in the area . Various types of orchids bloom at Rocha da Pena in spring .

Wild boars and wild rabbits live on the plateau . Smaller predators such as the red fox , the gorse cat and the ichneumon are also native to the area. Other mammal species are the long-winged bat and the lesser mouse- eared bat . The species diversity of birds is greater . The majority of the 124 species observed also nests here. Noteworthy are the birds of prey among them: common buzzard , Bonelli's eagle , little owl and eagle owl . The oriole , the bee eater , the red swallow , the jay , the velvet warbler , the red head shrike , the blue roe and the cuckoo can also be found . Gray herons and red thrush overwinter in the area.

Prehistoric defensive walls

On the Rocha da Pena plateau there are two stone walls that stretch across its entire width and were used for defensive purposes. They are dated to the Iron Age. During the Reconquista , the Moors are said to have sought refuge behind the ramparts after the fall of Salir Castle . A cave on the plateau still bears the name Algar dos Mouros (Moors Cave).

Natura 2000 site

Rocha da Pena is part of the Natura 2000 network . It was first designated as a nature reserve ( Sítio Classificado ) in 1991 in the municipalities of Salir and Benafim . Since 2008 she has the status of a Paisagem Protegida Local .

free time activities

The Rocha da Pena is a popular climbing rock with over 70 routes in twelve sectors.

The approximately 5 km long circular hiking trail “LLE PR18 - Rocha da Pena” leads from the villages of Rocha and Penina over the Table Mountain plateau. Three branches lead to the highest point of the mountain on the southern slope, to a northern lookout point and to the ruins of two windmills on the eastern edge of the mountain. The route is marked in yellow / red and has several information boards.