Ports de Tortosa-Beseit

Ports de Tortosa-Beseit
Rocky outcrops at els Ports
Highest point
Peak	Mont Caro
Elevation	1,441 m (4,728 ft)
Listing	List of mountains in Aragon
Coordinates	40°48′28″N 0°19′07″E / 40.80778°N 0.31861°E / 40.80778; 0.31861Coordinates: 40°48′28″N 0°19′07″E / 40.80778°N 0.31861°E / 40.80778; 0.31861
Geography
Ports de Tortosa-Beseit Location in Spain
Country	Spain
States/Provinces	Matarranya (Aragon), Baix Ebre & Montsià (Catalonia) and Baix Maestrat (Valencian Community)
Parent range	Iberian System, eastern zone
Geology
Orogeny	Alpine orogeny
Age of rock	Cretaceous
Type of rock	Karstic
Climbing
Easiest route	Drive from Roquetes on the western side or from Beseit on the eastern

Els Ports under snow in the winter

Ports de Tortosa-Beseit (Valencian pronunciation: [ˈpɔɾdz ðe toɾˈtoza beˈzejt]), also known as Ports de Beseit, or simply as Els Ports ([els ˈpɔrts]) or Lo Port ([lo ˈpɔrt]) by locals, is a limestone mountain massif located at the north-eastern end of the Sistema Ibérico, a complex system of mountain ranges and massifs in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. Its highest point is Mont Caro, 1,441 m.^[1] Rivers such as the Matarranya and the Sénia have their source in these mountains.

Description

At the 1350 m high Tossal dels Tres Reis (Peak of the Three Kings), where the borders of the ancient Kingdoms of Valencia, Catalonia and Aragon meet, there is a cairn marking the meeting point of the ancient three kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon.

It is mostly a limestone massif, with many steep cliffs, jagged peaks, deep valleys, shafts and caves. The area is mostly uninhabited except for small villages. These mountains were one of the last redoubts of the Spanish Maquis in the 1940s and 50s.^[2]

Ecology

One of the largest colonies of griffon vultures in Europe, as well as Spanish Ibex, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, European badgers, common genets, grey wagtails, among others, have their habitat in these lonely mountains.^[3] Among the aquatic animals there are trout in some of the rivers and amphibians such as the Marbled newt in many of the ponds of the range.^[4]

The vegetation of the Ports is rich and varied. Besides the Mediterranean species, there are also species belonging to Alpine flora and colder temperate regions at high altitudes and in protected valleys.^[5]

Mountain Ranges

The Ports Massif comprises several mountain ranges, like the Muntanyes de Benifassà, Serra de les Falconeres, Serra del Àguila, Serra de Rastell, Los Curullons, Moles de Raudorar, Serra de la Fortalesa, Serra de Caro, Serra de la Puca, Serra de Rafalgari, Serra de Paüls, Serra de les Deveres, Serra de l'Escaleta, Serra d'Encanader, Serra del Pedregal, Serra del Coc and Serra de l'Espina.^[6] The latter, located at its northern end, connects with the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range.

Peaks

Some of the main peaks of the massif are: Mont Caro (1447 m), the highest point, Castell de l'Airosa, Tossal d'en Cervera, Mola del Boix, Mola del Boixet, el Castellar, la Portella del Pinell, Curullons, el Negrell, Punta de l'Àliga, Farrubio, Penyaflor, Mola de Catí, Tossal dels Tres Reis, Tossa Blanca, Roques de Benet, Penyagalera, Mola de Lli, Tossal de Tall Nou, Tossal de l'Espada, la Ballestera, Mola de la Paridera, Muntanyola, La Tossa, Mola Castellona, Tossal de Joan Gran, Tossal de la Forca, Tossal d'en Grillo, Muntanya de Santa Bàrbara, L'Espina and La Moleta d'Alfara.

Protected areas

There are two natural parks in the massif; there is no protected area on the Aragonese side:

Parc Natural dels Ports on the Catalan side
Parc Natural de la Tinença de Benifassà on the Valencian side.

Features

Mont Caro, the Ports' highest point
Beech forest in the National Park area
Mas de Barberans, a town located at the feet of the eastern edge of the Ports
A mountain river at La Vall in the Mas de Barberans administrative area
Ulldemó River close to Beseit on the western edge of the Ports
Spanish Ibex at Ports de Tortosa Beseit
Belemnites fossils from Les Foies, in the Serra de l'Espina close to Alfara de Carles
Ulldecona Reservoir in the Tinença de Benifassà
Roques de Benet near Arnes, Terra Alta

References

↑ "Mapa Topogràfic de Catalunya". Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya. Retrieved 9 September 2010. .
↑ Jose Calvo Segarra, La pastora. Del monte al mito, ed. by Odette Calvo
↑ Walking In Spain
↑ Comarca del Matarraña - Biblioteca Virtual de Aragón
↑ Plantes del Port, Grup de Recerca Científica 'Terres de l'Ebre', Tortosa 2009
↑ Ports de Beseit

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ports de Tortosa Beseit.

Mountain ranges of the Sistema Ibérico

Northern & Western	Sierra de la Demanda Sierra de Neila Mesa de Cebollera Picos de Urbión Sierra de Alcarama Sierra de Peñalmonte Sierra de Moncalvillo Moncayo Sierra de Nava Alta Sierra de Perdices Sierra Ministra Sierra de Caldereros Sierra de Pardos Sierra de Miñana Sierra de Solorio Sierra de Selas Parameras de Molina

Southwestern, Central & Southeastern	Serranía de Cuenca Sierra Menera Sierra de Albarracín Montes de Picaza Montes Universales Sierra de Mira Sierra de Javalambre Sierra del Toro Sierra de la Virgen Sierra de Vicort Sierra de Algairén Sierra de Santa Cruz Sierra de Cucalón Sierra de Herrera Sierra de San Just Sierra de Lidón Sierra Palomera Sierra de Gúdar Sierra de Mayabona Sierra de Camarena Sierra de Sollavientos Sierra del Rayo Sierra de Pina

Eastern & Northeastern	Maestrat (Maestrazgo) Penyagolosa Massif Sierra de la Lastra Sierra de los Caballos Sierra de Garrocha Sierra de la Cañada Sierra Carrascosa Ports de Morella Serra de la Creu Serra d'En Segures Serra d'en Galceran Serra d'Esparreguera Serra de Vallivana Serra d'En Celler Serra del Turmell Serra de l'Espadella Moles de Xert Talaies d'Alcalà Serra de la Vall d'Àngel Cervera Mountains Serra de Sant Pere Serra Calderona Serra d'Espadà Ports de Tortosa-Beseit Benifassà Mountains Serra de Paüls Serra de l'Espina

Peaks	Moncayo Monte San Lorenzo Pico de Urbión Javalambre Peñarroya Peña Isasa Peñalmonte Tetas de Viana Caimodorro Cerro Calderón Monte Gatún Monte Serradero Mont Caro Castell de l'Airosa La Moleta Montegordo Penyagalera Roques de Benet Santa Bàrbara Tossal d'Orenga Tossal dels Tres Reis

Forests of the Iberian Peninsula Geography of Spain List of mountains in Aragon List of mountains in the Valencian Community List of mountains in Catalonia Sistema Central Monasterio de Piedra

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, June 10, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.