geo.wikisort.org - Mountains
The Serra de Monchique (Monchique Range) is a chain of mountains in the western part of the Algarve region of Portugal, about 20 km inshore. The chain's highest point is the peak of Fóia, at 902 m. 774 m high Picota is another notable peak.
| Monchique Range | |
|---|---|
| Serra de Monchique | |
 View of the Serra de Monchique | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Fóia |
| Elevation | 902 m (2,959 ft) |
| Coordinates | 37°19′N 8°36′W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 32 km (20 mi) NE/SW |
| Width | 7 km (4.3 mi) NW/SE |
| Geography | |
  | |
| Country | Portugal |
| Region | Algarve |
| Range coordinates | 37°19′N 8°36′W |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alpine |
| Age of rock | Late Cretaceous |
| Type of rock | Syenite, slate |
Description
The Monchique Range is the southwesternmost mountain range of the Iberian Peninsula. It is covered in forest and parts of the range have been transformed into eucalyptus, pine and acacia plantations which are detrimental to the native forest cover.[1] The range is named after the town of Monchique, located in the area.[2] Caldas de Monchique is a well-known spa town with geothermal springs also located in this range.
Rivers Seixe, Aljezur and Odiáxere have their sources in this range.
Geology
The Monchique Range is part of the Late-Cretaceous Iberian Alkaline Igneous Province and is related to the Mount Ormonde seamount in the Gorringe Bank.[3] The inselberg is formed primarily of nepheline-syenites (foyaite, for which 'Foia' is the type locality). At c.63 km2 Monchique the fourth largest miaskitic nepheline-syenite intrusion so far discovered. It is assumed to be of 'laccolithic' form, from its regular contact altitude to the Breijera formation (country rock).[4] Pegmatites of similar foyaitic composition are seen within the mass at two locations and an associated dyke swarm of lamprophyres and picrites extends some 3 km from the mountain. the psammite/shale/marl country rocks of the Breijera formation are well exposed to the west of Serra de Monchique, forming jagged outcrops and dramatic gorges, which since the destructive introduction of eucalyptus farming in 1976,[5] now run dry most of the year round.
Ecology
Serra de Monchique is threatened by continued aggressive eucalyptus 'cash-crop' farming, recent publications have shown the water table to be lowering significantly and many endemic species to be on the brink of extinction, including the Bonellis Eagle,[6] the Iberian emerald lizard[7] and many more listed under European Union protection.
View of Monchique
View of the rough Algarvian terrain and the Atlantic Ocean
Eucalyptus plantations
Stream at Barranco de Pisões
See also
- Geography of Portugal
- Geology of the Iberian Peninsula
References
- Profiling Portugal - the Serra de Monchique
- Monchique - Algarve - Portugal
- Continental Lithospheric Contribution to Alkaline Magmatism: Isotopic (Nd, Sr, Pb) and Geochemical (REE) Evidence from Serra de Monchique and Mount Ormonde Complexes
- Rock, N. M. S. (1982-04-15). "The Late Cretaceous Alkaline Igneous Province in the Iberian Peninsula, and its tectonic significance". Lithos. 15 (2): 111–131. doi:10.1016/0024-4937(82)90004-4.
- "How the Eucalyptus Tree Empties Wells and Feeds Forest Fires in Portugal". Ecopoliticstoday's Blog. 2014-06-08. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
- "Written question - Quarries in Natura 2000 area, Monchique, Portugal - E-004949/2011". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2016-06-22.
- Brito, José C.; Godinho, Raquel; Luı́s, Cristina; Paulo, Octávio S.; Crespo, Eduardo G. (1999-08-01). "Management strategies for conservation of the lizard Lacerta schreiberi in Portugal". Biological Conservation. 89 (3): 311–319. doi:10.1016/S0006-3207(99)00002-6.
External links
Media related to Serra de Monchique at Wikimedia Commons- Around Monchique and the mountains
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На других языках
[de] Serra de Monchique
Die Serra de Monchique ist ein Gebirge im Westen der Algarve. Die höchste Erhebung heißt Fóia und ist 902 Meter hoch. Das Monchique-Gebirge ist ein wichtiger Windschutz vor dem kalten Wind, der vom Atlantischen Ozean auf das Festland bläst.- [en] Serra de Monchique
[es] Sierra de Monchique
La sierra de Monchique (en portugués Serra de Monchique), es un sistema montañoso localizado en el Algarve occidental, en Portugal. Su punto más elevado alcanza los 908 m de altitud. Es el punto más alto del Algarve, lo que la hace barrera de condensación de los vientos procedentes del océano Atlántico.[fr] Serra de Monchique
La serra de Monchique est une chaîne de montagnes de l'Algarve au Portugal. Elle est constituée de roches magmatiques plutoniques.[ru] Серра-ди-Моншики
Се́рра-ди-Монши́ки (порт. Serra de Monchique) — гряда невысоких гор на юге Португалии, на северо-востоке провинции Алгарви. Имеет две наиболее высокие вершины — гора Фоя (902 м) и гора Пикота (774 м). Между этими горами расположен посёлок Моншики. Климат в горах субтропический, с количеством осадков 1000—2000 мм в год.Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.
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