Today we are going to talk about the natural park of Mountains of Malaga. It is a mountainous system that belongs to the Penibético system. The maximum height of the mountains is about 1031 meters. The majority of the territory (specifically 97%) belongs to the municipality of Malaga. The Montes de Málaga are well known for their wealth of flora and fauna and it is frequently visited for excursions, hiking and camping of all kinds.
In this article we are going to explain in a more profound way everything you can find in the Montes de Málaga and the importance it has.
Key features
97% of the territory of these mountains belongs to Malaga. The other 3% belongs to Casabermeja. Its geology is made up of a rock substrate with a weak regional metamorphism. The so-called "Malaquide cover" is one that is above the substrate and does not have any metamorphism.
The Montes de Málaga are home to 5 well-defined basins. We find tributaries of the Guadalmedina river that are:
- Stream of cows
- Chaperas Creek
- Friars Creek
- Humaina Stream
- Arroyo Hondo
These main waterways experience torrential flows. That is, they tend to have a strong and violent flow only when rainfall occurs. Throughout the Málaga area, rainfall is usually sparse but abundant. This causes rivers to have a torrent-style flow. There are some retained cross-sections whose main objective is to stop the negative effects of erosion. This erosion takes place whenever there is abundant rainfall. More than half of the forest has been disappearing with the passage of time since the Roman Empire ended.
There are data that reflect the existence of Mozarabic occupations in the Muslim era. These places were surrounded by vineyards, meadows and trees.
History of the Mountains of Malaga
The mountains located closest to the capital were almost uninhabited and large spaces placed in the lower part of the mountains could be seen, as well as beehives and chestnut trees installed in the non-cultivated areas.
Honey was one of the most precious sweeteners at that time, so its use was essential. The dried fig was also very important and coveted at that time with the raisin in the background. Given the situation these mountains have, there are many towns that have passed through this area. The oldest writings there are are from the XNUMXst century and it was an area full of fountains, forests and plains.
In history it can be seen that there was an intense maritime traffic from Spain to Italy using cargo ships that were built on the same coasts with woods from the country. Large quantities of wine, olive oil and wheat were transported to the Italian lands. Andalusia was the only area where metals, wood, milk, cereals and honey were abundant. Hunting for many game species was also very abundant. This is one of the reasons that many invaders have come here. Materials and hunting.
Flora and fauna
The predominant vegetation is that which corresponds to a forest. We find numerous examples of Aleppo pine, with some patches of Quercus vegetation and degradation scrub. The low rainfall does not allow for abundant and humid vegetation.
Some 182 species have been found in some studies and biodiversity counts that belong to plants that have roots, stems, leaves and flowers. The main species that we find are: Aleppo pine and stone pine, holm oak, juniper, cork oak, almond tree, carob, olive tree, oleander and palmetto. These are all the most frequent tree species that we come across.
On the other hand, we have the degraded scrub vegetation in which we can find species of: rockrose, steppe, thyme, sarsaparilla, rosemary, asparagus, mastic, lavender, bramble, jaguars, among others.
It was declared as a Natural Park in 1989 and appears in the Law of Inventories of Protected Natural Areas of Andalusia. Just a few days after its publication in BOJA, it suffered from a huge fire that jeopardized its entire integrity. More than 30 hectares burned with more than 50.000 pine specimens at an age of about 50 years. These pines were mature and productive for creating new soil.
Regarding the predominant fauna, we find more than 161 species of vertebrates. There are 2 species of fish, 34 mammals, 98 of birds and 19 of reptiles. One of the most pleasant aspects of hiking in the Montes de Málaga is the fresh air, the distinct aromas, and the sounds of the wildlife. Air currents mingle with the rustling of the plants, and the flowering plants provide a perfect contrast to the filtered light in the forest.
Beauty of the Mountains of Malaga
What attracts a lot of these mountains are the hiking trails that help us to get away from the routine, the noise of cars, traffic jams and the enjoyment of nature. Thanks to the climate of Malaga, the temperatures are milder in winter although somewhat warmer in summer. However, it makes a perfect temperature to be able to enjoy the landscapes that the territory offers and the wonderful place in combination with the pleasant noise of the fauna and the wind among the flora.
Native plants have been gaining ground little by little after the aforementioned great fire. It is expected to finish recovering a large part of the area that was seriously damaged.
It has not been characterized by the amount of livestock it has. The transit of animals through this area is rather scarce, so that hardly any roads have been created for livestock. To walk there are other means of communication that establish the paths to be traveled by the tourist.
In summary, the Montes de Málaga are highly valued for their richness of species and for the geology of the terrain. I hope that with this information you have made you want to visit this interesting area.
