Sierras Subbéticas
| Sierras Subbéticas | ||
|---|---|---|
 Rock gorge near Zuheros |
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| Highest peak | La Tinosa ( 1570 msnm ) | |
| location | Iberian Peninsula :; Spain - South of the province of Córdoba | |
| part of | Betic Cordilleras | |
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| Coordinates | 37 ° 27 ′ N , 4 ° 20 ′ W | |
| Type | Karst Mountains | |
| rock | Limestone , marl , dolomite | |
| Age of the rock | Alpidian phase (100–50 mya) | |
| surface | 1,591 km² | |
With Sierras Subbéticas a mountainous region is known that in the central Andalusia , in the southeastern province of Cordoba in Spain is. It is part of the so-called Betic Cordillera , to which the Sierra Nevada , located further east, also belongs. In 1988, a large part of the area was declared a natural park and was given the name Parque Natural de Sierras Subbéticas . Since 2006, the mountain part due to its geological relevance to the UNESCO - Geopark .
Landscape and climate
The Sierras Subbéticas are made up of two mountain ranges, the Cabra Mountains in the north and the Rute and Horconera Sierras in the south of the nature park, both of which are separated by the Carcabuey corridor . The mountains of Cabra are less rugged, but strongly karstified and shaped by Polja , as well as caves and gorges. The highest point in the Cabra mountains is the Lobatejo at 1,379 m. The Sierras of Rute and Horconera are considerably more rugged, with steep walls, gorges and higher peaks. Here is also the highest mountain in the province of Cordoba, the 1,570 m high La Tinosa . In the lower areas there are extensive olive plantations . The Carcabuey corridor has a number of smaller mountain ranges that can also reach a height of over 1,000 m, such as the Sierra Gallinera at 1,097 m. There are also numerous olive groves here.
Mild winters and long hot summers characterize the typical Mediterranean climate. The average temperatures are 9 ° in winter and 29.5 ° in summer. It rains mostly in winter, while there is hardly any rainfall in summer. Snow sometimes falls at high altitudes in winter. The highest amounts of precipitation are recorded in the Cabra mountains, where up to around 1,000 mm of precipitation is measured per year. In the Sierras of Rute and Horconera, on the other hand, there is less than 600 mm of rain per year.
Geology and waters
The rocks of the Sierras Subbétcas originated in the Triassic up to and including the Oligocene . Lime and chalk are predominant , as well as marl and dolomite . Karst is the term used to describe terrain formations that were created by the carbonic acid weathering of limestone, caused by considerably greater amounts of rain than today. So-called carts , as washed out gullies and furrows are called, can be found in the flat terrain near Cabra . Round or elliptical funnel-shaped depressions are called sinkholes , like the sinkholes of Los Hoyones . Sima denotes a collapsed sinkhole and probably the best known is the Sima of Cabra with a depth of 161 m . Polje is a typical tub-shaped depression, such as the Polje de la Nava northeast of Cabra. Underground karst phenomena are caves, such as the Cueva de los Murciélagos near Zuheros .
85 percent of the rainwater seeps into the porous and fissured limestone of the Sierras Subbéticas, but meets an impermeable layer of marl at an altitude of around 550 m. As a result, the water escapes in numerous springs and supplies the entire south of the province of Córdoba. One of the most famous springs is the Fuente del Rey in Priego de Córdoba . The streams and rivers of the region have cut deep gorges into the landscape over the course of millions of years. The rivers either turn east and flow into the Guadajaz or flow south into the Genil . Both are tributaries of the Guadalquivir , Andalusia's largest river.
plants and animals
In the Sierras Subbéticas there are only a few remnants of peonies and holm oaks , which were originally native here. The former vegetation was largely replaced by olive groves, especially in lower elevations. At higher elevations there are still holm oak forests interspersed with Portuguese oaks and French maples . Dwarf shrubbery, lawns and plants that only occur here are widespread. These endemics consist of the sparrow's tongue (Thymelaea granatensis), the bindweed (Convolvulus boissieri) and the spherical flower (Globularia espinosa). For example, the so-called rock tea (Jasonia glutinosa), germander (Teucrium retundifolium), various bluebells ( Campanula spatulata ) and hot stonecrop (Sedum acre) grow in the rock walls . The streams one finds remains of the former bach accompanying forest as silver and break pastures , as well as some from alders and poplars .
The forests are the habitat of wild boars , wild cats and numerous species of birds, including many species of birds of prey such as hawk , sparrowhawk , little eagle and short-toed eagle . In the rocky areas live stone and Bonelli's eagle , peregrine falcon , as well as geese and Egyptian vultures . In terms of mammals, ibexes , stone marten and bats can be found and reptiles are represented by the pearl lizard and the inverted-nosed viper , among others .
History and economy
Traces of human habitation come from caves like the Cuevade los Cholones near Zagrilla and the Cueva de los Murciélagos near Zuheros. Here were artifacts from the Old and New Stone Age and rock carvings discovered. 6,000 years ago, the inhabitants grew wheat and raised sheep, goats and pigs here.
At Dona Mencia and Zuheros there are remains of Iberian fortifications from prehistoric times. Around the 2nd century BC The area was settled by the Romans . They practiced agriculture and pasture and probably planted the first olive trees and vines. Remains from Roman times have been discovered in the center of Cabra. The Moors left numerous traces, such as the castles of Cabra, Carcabuey, Luque , Priego and Zuheros, as well as many watchtowers. The Arabs are responsible for the cultivation of figs , pomegranates and saffron .
The Reconquista , the reconquest of the area by the Christians, lasted from the 8th to the 15th centuries and the last Moorish bastion near Granada was conquered in 1492. After that, large estates also formed in the Sierras Subbéticas , which led to uprisings among the impoverished rural population. It was not until the Duke of Medinaceli and the Counts of Revilla sold their large estates in the 20th century that olive cultivation developed to the extent it is today. The region's olive oil has two Protected Designations of Origin, Baena and Priego de Córdoba . Sheep and goat cheese are also some of the area's specialties. In tourism, among other things, guided hikes through the nature park are offered.
