Serra de Monte Figo
The Serra de Monte Figo is a small mountain range in the Portuguese Algarve provinces of Faro and Olhão .
geography
The Serra is about 12 kilometers northeast of the Algarve capital Faro and 8 kilometers north of Olhão on the IP 1 motorway, which here, for the sake of the mountains, describes a wide arc.
At the point of its greatest extent it measures eight kilometers in length and four in width. The mountain range culminates in the summit of São Miguel, which has a height of 411 meters.
particularities
It should be noted that you can easily reach the summit of São Miguel by car or on foot. A narrow road leads up serpentines from Moncarapacho . There is a radio station on the summit, similar to the one on the Brocken .
To the north of the summit is a small village that bears the same name as the mountain. Because of this fact, there have often been misunderstandings. Many travelers end up in the patch instead of on the mountain if they don't have a map with them because of the confusing signage .
tourism
The Serra, but especially its highest peak, are extremely popular tourist destinations. On the one hand, this can be explained by the excellent view. On the other hand, the São Miguel is the first high mountain in the country when viewed from the sea.
It is thanks to the exposed location of the Serra de Monte Figo that one gets the impression that it is a mountain range of its own. However, this is not entirely correct. Basically, it is the spur of the Serra do Caldeirão, which is up to 572 meters high .
economy
From an economic point of view, the Serra is of little importance. It serves as a livelihood or work for around 100 people, for example the souvenir sellers on São Miguel, the shepherds who graze their flocks on the slopes, and the foresters and hunters who have their assigned territory here.
Forest fires
Again and again, forest fires rage in the Algarve in the dry midsummer .
In 2004 the fires also reached the Serra de Monte Figo. 70% of the tree population fell victim to the flames. The fire brigade had to due to the water shortage, the swimming pools of the villas (which have built many Central Europeans in this area) pump out and use their content as extinguishing water to the devastating fires to get under control.
Coordinates: 37 ° 6 ′ 27 ″ N , 7 ° 51 ′ 22 ″ W.