Marina Alta (; ; lit. "Upper Marina") is a central and coastal ''

comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...

'' of the

autonomous community The autonomous communities () are the first-level administrative divisions of Spain, created in accordance with the Spanish Constitution of 1978, with the aim of guaranteeing limited autonomy to the nationalities and regions that make up Sp ...

Valencia Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. The ''comarca'' is located in the area of

Alicante Alicante (, , ; ; ; officially: ''/'' ) is a city and municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean port. The population ...

and its capital and largest settlement is the city of

Dénia Dénia (; ) is a historical coastal city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia (city in Spain), Valencia, and the capital and judicial seat of the Comarques of the Valencian Community, ''c ...

. Marina Alta borders the ''comarca'' of

Safor Safor (; ) is a ''Comarques of the Valencian Community, comarca'' within the province of Valencia (province), Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain. The capital is the city of Gandia, but also includes the towns of Oliva, Piles, Valencia, Piles a ...

to the north, the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern Eur ...

to the north and east, the ''comarca'' of

Marina Baixa Marina Baixa (; ; lit. "Lower Marina") is a ''comarca'' in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is bordered by the ''comarques'' of Comtat on the northwest, Marina Alta on the northeast, Alacantí and Alcoià on the west and the Mediterranean Sea ...

to the south and

Comtat Comtat (; ) is a ''comarca'' in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain. Municipalities The ''comarca'' is composed of 24 municipalities, listed below with their areas and populations: See also *Geography of Spain Spa ...

to the west. Marina Alta and Marina Baixa are commonly referred to as ''les Marines''. Coastal towns such as Calp, Dénia and Xàbia rely heavily on tourism, while inland towns are more dependent on agriculture and other general commerce.

Municipalities

The ''comarca'' of la Marina Alta comprises 33 municipalities, of which the most northeasterly two - Dénia and adjacent

Xàbia () or () is a coastal town and municipality in the ''comarca'' of Marina Alta, in the province of Alicante, Valencia, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. Situated on the side of the Montgó Massif, behind a wide bay and sheltered between two rocky ...

(Jávea) - form the largest urban area. These are listed below with their areas and populations:

References

Comarques of the Valencian Community Geography of the Province of Alicante {{Valencia-geo-stub