The Garraf Massif ( ca, Massís del Garraf, ) is a mountain range of the
Catalan Coastal Range
The Catalan Coastal Range ( ca, Serralada Litoral Catalana, ) is a system of mountain ranges running parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Catalan Mediterranean System. Its main axis runs between the ...
,
Catalonia
Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a '' nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy.
Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the no ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
. Its cliffs reach the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on th ...
waters. Its highest point on the coastal side is
La Morella, 593 metres above sea level and further inland rises the higher, although less conspicuous,
Montau (657 m).
Geography
The Garraf Massif gives its name to the
Garraf
Garraf (), better known as El Garraf (), is a comarca (county) in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, northern Spain. It is named after the Garraf Massif.
The GR 92 long distance footpath, which roughly follows the length of the Mediterran ...
comarca, as well as to the little seashore village of
Garraf
Garraf (), better known as El Garraf (), is a comarca (county) in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, northern Spain. It is named after the Garraf Massif.
The GR 92 long distance footpath, which roughly follows the length of the Mediterran ...
. It is located south of
Barcelona
Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ...
, between the coastal towns of
Castelldefels and
Sitges
Sitges (, , ) is a town about 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona, in Spain, renowned worldwide for its Film Festival, Carnival, and LGBT Culture. Located between the Garraf Massif and the Mediterranean Sea, it is known for its beaches, nightspot ...
. highways
C-31 and
C-32, as well as the
RENFE Barcelona-Valencia railway line go through the shoreline side of the Garraf Massif. The small town of
Olivella,
Plana Novella
Plana Novella ( ca, La Plana Novella) is an old country estate and village located on a small plain in the middle of the Garraf Massif National Park, about three kilometers to the east of Jafra and within the municipal boundary of the town of O ...
with its
Buddhist monastery
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and g ...
, as well as the abandoned village of
Jafra are located in the middle of the massif, in th
Natural Park area
This coastal
calcareous
Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.
In zoology
''Calcareous'' is used as an a ...
mountain range is sparsely wooded, and has many rocky denuded areas. The main vegetation is
maquis shrubland
220px, Low maquis in Corsica
220px, High ''macchia'' in Sardinia
( , , ) or ( , ; often in Italian; hr, makija; ; ) is a shrubland biome in the Mediterranean region, typically consisting of densely growing evergreen shrubs.
Maquis is cha ...
and the
Mediterranean Fan Palm is an endemic species of these mountains. It has over 400 karstic
shafts and
cave
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...
s, including
La Falconera, a very large cave with an underground lake that is now heavily polluted.
Ecology
Despite having been declared a
Protected Area
Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...
by the
Catalan Government, there are many seriously degraded areas throughout the massif. These include
quarries
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their environ ...
and vast
rubbish dumps that are very active and keep degrading the mountains and polluting their
karstic
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant r ...
underground lakes and rivers. Over 23 million tons of garbage have accumulated in the ''Vall d'en Joan'' landfill alone.
Urbanization
Urbanization (or urbanisation) refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It is predominantly t ...
has covered different zones of the range, especially in locations close to
Sitges
Sitges (, , ) is a town about 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona, in Spain, renowned worldwide for its Film Festival, Carnival, and LGBT Culture. Located between the Garraf Massif and the Mediterranean Sea, it is known for its beaches, nightspot ...
, as well as on the
Castelldefels side. There the mountain sides are covered with mostly
bungalows
A bungalow is a small house or cottage that is either single- story or has a second story built into a sloping roof (usually with dormer windows), and may be surrounded by wide verandas.
The first house in England that was classified as a b ...
or small houses, especially in the seafront areas.
[Xavier Bayer i Cisco Guasch, ''Paratges naturals: Massís del Garraf i conques de l’Anoia, del Foix i del Gaià'', ]
See also
*
Garraf
Garraf (), better known as El Garraf (), is a comarca (county) in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, northern Spain. It is named after the Garraf Massif.
The GR 92 long distance footpath, which roughly follows the length of the Mediterran ...
, a seaside village
*
Vallcarca, a limestone quarry complex with a now abandoned settlement in the Garraf Massif
*
Olèrdola
*
Plana Novella
Plana Novella ( ca, La Plana Novella) is an old country estate and village located on a small plain in the middle of the Garraf Massif National Park, about three kilometers to the east of Jafra and within the municipal boundary of the town of O ...
*
Catalan Coastal Range
The Catalan Coastal Range ( ca, Serralada Litoral Catalana, ) is a system of mountain ranges running parallel to the Mediterranean Sea coast in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Catalan Mediterranean System. Its main axis runs between the ...
*
Mountains of Catalonia
This is a list of mountains in Catalonia, Spain.
See also
* Montserrat
*List of mountains in Aragon
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mountains Of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, ...
References
Bibliography
* Estanislau Vayreda, "Catàleg de la flòrula de la Mare de Déu del Mont", ''Treballs de la Institució Catalana d'Història Natural'', 1919–1920, pp. 360–442.
External links
{{Commons category, Massís del Garraf
GarrafL'acció antròpica sobre les Muntanyes de Garraf
Mountains of Catalonia
Garraf