227:. The mountain rises dramatically from the valley floors surrounding it and dominates the skyline for miles around. Its craggy cliffs are home to some of the most unusual flora and fauna in Spain. The mountain is renowned for its rock formations, cliffs, caves and natural harbours. From the Xàbia side Montgó is often said to resemble the head and trunk of an elephant. The mountain can be easily reached by highway CV-736 which links Denia with Xàbia, both of which are accessible via the AP-7 motorway or the N-332 national highway.
105:
98:
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29:
652:. Humid air from the Mediterranean is forced up towards the summit of the Montgó, then condenses and falls as rain. Despite its dry and austere appearance, rain is common on the mountain, with peak precipitation occurring between September and November. However, during the summer there is often a long period of drought.
260:
period, some 70 million years ago, when plate tectonic processes forced the
African and European continental plates upwards, creating spectacular mountainous landscapes such as that of the Montgó. Over the next few million years, strong erosion and rock slides sculpted it to the shape it has today.
247:
settlements. Because of its extraordinary wealth of flora, fauna and ecosystems the park was declared an officially protected nature reserve in 1987. The reserve runs almost parallel to the coastline, joining the coastal area via a flat area known as ‘les Planes’ which ends at Cap de San Antoni.
660:
It is possible to climb to the top of Montgó from all sides. The excursion leads through numerous eco-systems: stony terrain, croplands, pine forests and scrub land. The ascent takes about four hours. At the summit of Montgó one will find the remains of the Casa de Biot, an
367:, can be found. As one moves away from the sea and the salinity decreases the Valencian rock violet appears as well as Cave Scabius on the steeper slopes. On more level ground, endemic plants can be found (the town of Denia takes its name from the cult to the Roman goddess
597:
way of life, and were able to survive thanks to rich fishing grounds, plentiful supply of animals and mild temperatures. Evidence of human presence in past millennia can be seen in the famous paintings in Migdia cave. Elsewhere on the mountain
354:
On the cliffs of the Cap de Sant Antoni, the vegetation is characterised by plants adapted to growing in the fissures, cracks and shelves of the cliff, and able to withstand contact with salt water. In the areas closest to the sea, Marine
238:
The Montgó Nature
Reserve encompasses 2150 hectares (5312 acres) around the mountain. It includes a coastal section that covers over 3 kilometres (1.9 mi). The Reserve contains important archaeological finds such as cave paintings,
394:
or carrasco pine and vegetation typical of unirrigated land. Shady cliffs, with their increased humidity level, isolation and inaccessibility encourage the growth of endemic plants such as
Valencian rock violet, Cave Scabius,
635:
grape on its slopes. Today, these areas have been largely abandoned due to difficulty in accessibility and non-profitability. Yet some vines, which produce the sweet grape variety, mostly the
Mistela of the
770:
230:
A regional folktale details that Dénia and Xàbia fought over the Montgó so much that one fell on their face and the other on their butt, giving the nicknames of people from these regions.
685:. This decree has since been modified by Ordinance 110/92. Law 5/88 issued on June 24, 1988, by the Generalitat Valenciana protects the nature reserves of the Province of Valencia.
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950:
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period some 30,000 years ago. During this period, small nomadic groups occupied the caves and hills that faced the sea in the Cap de San antoni. The communities lived a
960:
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age in the 4th and 5th centuries as a place of worship and later as a water deposit in the 18th century. In the entrance there's a Roman inscription dated year
955:
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The geology and climate of the Montgó has fostered more than 650 species of flora. The primitive
Mediterranean oak, which once dominated the mountain before
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has developed. In areas exposed to the sun, various communities of species adapted to high temperatures and scarce humidity levels are located, such as
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371:) such as the Valencian rock violet and also pitiusic vegetation (in reference to the nearby archipelago Pitiusas) such as rock
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settlement of the eighth century B.C. From the summit there are magnificent views of the coast and the sea and on a clear day,
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There are a few caves in the massif. The most prominent is the Cova de l'Aigua, a small cave that was used in the
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Clouds are often seen forming around the peak of Montgó even when the sky is clear elsewhere. This is caused by
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The geological composition of this Nature
Reserve is characterized by Cretaceous materials. On the lower parts,
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and bats which share their mountain home. Although there is no concrete evidence as yet, it is probable that
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324:(usually seen in the plains), the only palm species to grow wild in Europe. In addition, the
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At the end of the 19th century, a high demand for raisins led to the cultivation of the
467:. In the higher areas the patiamarilla gull nests and Audouin's gull winters along with
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carved by a legionary stationed there. The cave is accessible from the Dénia side.
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hand-axes and flints have been found along with Roman pottery and Muslim ceramics.
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or ‘Hierba Santa’ as it is known in
Spanish, is unique and only found here and in
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http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/natura/natura3.htm?idnat=33&idioma_sess=3
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which have been documented to be breeding. Four of these species are nocturnal (
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In the higher more humid areas there are a number of endemic plants such as the
216:
130:
820:
553:
Due to shortages of places to collect water, amphibians are rare, although the
211:, Spain, which rises to 753 metres (2,470 ft). It is the last spur on the
771:"Natural spots in Spain: Parque Natural de el Montgo. Nature tourism in Spain"
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898:"Página no encontrada – Portal Turístico de Xàbia – Ayuntamiento de Xàbia"
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861:"Mons agonis & Montgó y Dénia: De la ciudad a la Cova de l'Aigua (II)"
821:"Página no encontrada – Portal Turístico de Xàbia – Ayuntamiento de Xàbia"
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and marlaceous lime abound, while the escarpments are formed by compact
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343:, as well as the Mediterranean scrub. On the summit there is red
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577:. As regards invertebrate species, there are a great number of
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Decree 25/87 issued on March 16, 1987, by the
Consell of the
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The first evidence of human presence on Montgó dates to the
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which dominate the more protected areas with deeper soil.
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are still found. Reptiles are more frequent, such as the
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In total there are eight species of birds of prey in the
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and Kermes oak. These take over from the communities of
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by man, is still present, as is Mount Atlas
Pistachio,
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region in the north of
Alicante between the towns of
640:, as well as some citrus products, are still grown.
620:, Abd ur Rahman the Third, made a special trip from
403:. On wider shelves, a community of Black Sabina and
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33:Montgó massif seen from the plain of San Antonio,
616:At the beginning of the 10th century the moorish
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8:
859:Gisbert Santonja, Josep A. (25 April 2020).
796:"Montgo Nature Reserve on the Costa Blanca"
966:Protected areas of the Valencian Community
753:"Alicante Natural Parks - CarAlicante.com"
18:
951:Natural parks of the Valencian Community
705:
215:Mountain Range and is located in the
7:
961:Mountains of the Valencian Community
695:Mountains of the Valencian Community
339:groves dotted with mastic trees and
320:, as well as the blue Mediterranean
956:Protected areas established in 1987
550:also reproduce in the Montgó park.
423:The marine bird life comprises the
256:The mountain was formed during the
382:On the plain, as on the hillside,
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673:Legislation protecting the Montgó
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835:"Cova de l'Aigua – Racó del Bou"
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27:
335:The Montgó flora also includes
494:) and the other four diurnal (
455:live on the Montgó as well as
390:grow mingled with repopulated
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1:
721:"Birds of prey on the Montgó"
447:), among other species. The
243:amphoras and the remains of
182:First drive, then hike from
628:from the slopes of Montgó.
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735:"Parque Natural el Montgó"
624:to collect over a hundred
463:and an abundance of other
409:Chaenorrhinum crassifolium
510:). They feed on the many
90:
26:
573:, and, most exotically,
397:Sanguisorba ancistroides
200:Valencian pronunciation:
401:Sarcocapnos saetabensis
316:and the Valencian rock
252:Formation of the Montgó
946:Natural parks of Spain
919:El Montgó Natural Park
681:declared the Montgó a
679:Generalitat Valenciana
921:at Wikimedia Commons
365:Helichrysum decumbens
314:Hippocrepis Valentina
234:Montgó Nature Reserve
133:, Valencian Community
571:horseshoe whip snake
508:Eurasian sparrowhawk
326:Carduncellus Dianius
213:Cordillera Prebética
70:38.80833°N 0.11667°E
757:www.caralicante.com
656:Climbing the Montgó
644:Climatic conditions
476:Montgó Natural Park
437:Sterna sandvicensis
207:) is a mountain in
66: /
839:Dénia Tourist Info
484:Eurasian scops owl
480:Eurasian eagle owl
453:Eurasian eagle owl
425:yellow-footed gull
413:Teucrium hifacense
405:Chamaerops humilis
361:everlasting flower
341:rhamnnus alaternus
42:Highest point
917:Media related to
867:. La Marina Plaza
585:Human inhabitants
563:viviparous lizard
548:Eleanora's falcon
544:short-toed eagles
518:, toads, snakes,
287:over-exploitation
209:Alicante Province
193:
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117:Location in Spain
75:38.80833; 0.11667
16:Mountain in Spain
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798:. Archived from
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773:. Archived from
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737:. Archived from
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575:Bedriaga's skink
567:ocellated lizard
528:European badgers
512:European rabbits
500:peregrine falcon
449:peregrine falcon
429:Larus cachinnans
206:
204:[moŋˈɡo]
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146:Prebaetic System
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865:La Marina Plaza
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650:Orographic lift
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626:medicinal herbs
595:hunter-gatherer
587:
559:natterjack toad
540:common buzzards
469:Bonelli's eagle
465:migratory birds
445:Larus audouinii
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276:Flora and fauna
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908:External links
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741:on 2005-05-04.
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504:common kestrel
441:Audouin's gull
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379:can be found.
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148:, Eastern zone
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941:Baetic System
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802:on 2008-08-04
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581:and insects.
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532:common genets
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433:Sandwich tern
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177:Easiest route
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159:Mountain type
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926:Park Website
911:
892:
881:
869:. Retrieved
864:
854:
842:. Retrieved
838:
829:
815:
804:. Retrieved
800:the original
790:
779:. Retrieved
775:the original
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756:
747:
739:the original
729:
683:Natural Park
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140:Parent range
638:Marina Alta
591:Paleolithic
555:common toad
217:Marina Alta
131:Marina Alta
73: /
48:Coordinates
935:Categories
806:2008-07-29
781:2008-07-29
701:References
579:gastropods
524:brown rats
492:little owl
459:, ravens,
388:Kermes oak
337:Kermes oak
258:Cretaceous
241:Phoenician
58:38°48′30″N
600:Stone-Age
516:red foxes
488:tawny owl
301:, marine
295:hellebore
270:limestone
164:Limestone
86:Geography
871:11 March
844:11 March
689:See also
633:Moscatel
557:and the
546:and the
490:and the
461:seagulls
451:and the
384:lavender
377:valerian
359:and the
349:holm oak
345:lavender
322:fan palm
299:lavender
293:, white
291:rosemary
186:or from
170:Climbing
127:Location
663:Iberian
622:Cordoba
607:Iberian
536:weasels
520:dormice
496:goshawk
373:thistle
303:juniper
297:, rock
245:Iberian
153:Geology
61:0°7′0″E
618:Caliph
569:, the
565:, the
457:eagles
439:) and
392:aleppo
357:Fennel
318:violet
307:cistus
196:Montgó
111:Montgó
22:Montgó
667:Ibiza
419:Fauna
399:, and
369:Diana
330:Ibiza
281:Flora
225:Xàbia
221:Dénia
188:Dénia
184:Xàbia
35:Xàbia
873:2023
846:2023
506:and
411:and
386:and
375:and
305:and
266:marl
223:and
611:238
431:),
937::
863:.
837:.
755:.
708:^
542:,
534:,
530:,
526:,
522:,
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415:.
363:,
332:.
309:.
272:.
900:.
875:.
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823:.
809:.
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759:.
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443:(
435:(
427:(
198:(
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