Serra d'Irta | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 573 m (1,880 ft) |
Listing | List of mountains in the Valencian Community |
Coordinates | 40°19′52″N 0°19′09″E / 40.33111°N 0.31917°ECoordinates: 40°19′52″N 0°19′09″E / 40.33111°N 0.31917°E |
Geography | |
Location | Baix Maestrat, Valencian Community |
Parent range | Mediterranean System, Southern zone |
Geology | |
Mountain type | karstic |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | drive from Alcossebre or Peníscola |
Serra d'Irta (Valencian pronunciation: [ˈsɛra ˈðiɾta], Spanish: Sierra de Irta) is an 18.8 km long mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain. Its highest point is Pic Campanilles (573 m).
The Serra d'Irta stretches in a northeast-southwest direction south of the Vinaròs plain, its northern limit. It is located right by the Mediterranean coastline, rising on the eastern side of the road between Barcelona and Valencia. Its southern limit is near Alcossebre.
This mountain range is covered with Maquis shrubland, including Juniperus oxycedrus, Calicotome spinosa, Pistacia lentiscus and Anthyllis cytisoides shrubs. Some of the lower slopes facing inland are planted with olive, almond and carob trees. In spite of the mountain area having been officially declared a Natural Park, there has been heavy urbanization on the slopes of the mountain having a sea view towards the northern end of the range next to Peníscola. There are castles and watchtowers of Moorish times on peaks of the Serra d'Irta both east of Santa Magdalena de Polpís and of Alcalà de Xivert. The most important watchtower is Torre Badum.