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| The Land of Valencia
has lots of surprises in store for you! |
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On
the shores of the Mediterranean there
is a beautiful Land, a warm and inviting
destination waiting for you. Come and
see the Costa Blanca, Benidorm, Valencia
Terra i Mar and the Costa del Azahar in
all their splendor. |
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are all places where you can enjoy fun
in the sun, beautiful beaches, benefit
from the climate and keep in shape with
your favorite sport, all year round. Where
you can discover Local history and monuments,
meet new friends and participate in lots
of fiestas. Where you can follow scenic
rivers and mountain streams, rest by a
shady fountain, travel down hidden byways
and forest tracks... and much, much more. |
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From the shores
of the Mediterranean to the grandiose
sierras of the interior, the Land of Valencia
provides you with a wide variety of natural
surroundings. |
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3,500
km2 of scenery. From the shores of the
Mediterranean to the grandiose sierras
of the interior, the Land of Valencia
gives you the chance to enjoy a wide variety
of natural surroundings:
endless beaches, hidden coves, marshlands,
rice paddies, salt flats, Mediterranean
forests, deep ravines and gorges sculpted
by mountain streams... Lots of space for
nature lovers. |
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From north to
south, there are twelve protected nature
reserves where unique Mediterranean flora
and fauna can be found.
Prat
de Cabanes-Torreblanca nature reserve
This is a flat coastal area separated
from the sea by a narrow strip of shingle
and sand. It is the major wetland area
in Castell6n province and considered
highly valuable owing to its unique
plant and animal population.
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Desierto
de Ia Palmas nature reserve
Located in the municipal areas of Benicàssim,
Cabanes, Ia Pobla Tornesa, Borriol and
Castellón de la Plana, this scenic
nature reserve featuring a 'palm tree
desert' has an area of 2,000 ha and forms
part of the mountain range that runs parallel
to the coast. |
Islas
Columbretes Nature Park
The archipelago of the Columbretes islands
is Located 30 miles off the coast of Castellión.
These volcanic islands are of great ecological
value and are unique in the entire Mediterranean
basin. They have been carved by the wind
and sea into curious shapes, like the
interconnected craters on Isla Grossa
and the central chimney of the ancient
Carallot volcano. |
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Sierra
Espadan nature park
This nature park is covered in valuable
cork oak groves and pine trees. The park
is dotted with tiny villages with Morisco
reminiscences and an interesting cultural
heritage: castles, the town of Jinquer,
and Roman ruins... Local fauna include
eagles, badgers, foxes, genets and stone
martens.
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La
Albufera nature park
This is the major wetland area in the
Land of Valencia, both because of its
size (21,000 ha) and its ecological value.
It serves as a principal stopover and
a nesting area for water birds. It has
four distinct habitats with their own
plant and animal life: the shoal or sandbar,
the marsh, the lagoon and the forest area.
Traditional activities are fishing and
rice growing. |
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Pego-Oliva
Marshland nature park
This is another important wetland area
in the Land of Valencia owing to the variety
of its submarine life. Extending over
1,290 ha, the park includes the river
Bullent-Vedat and the southern slope of
the Mustalla sierra, the marshland, the
coastal sand dunes and the river Molinell
Racons. |
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El
Montgó nature park.
The Montgó massif rises up to 750
m just off the coast between
Denia and Javea. This impressive mountain
with its own peculiar
eco-systems runs parallel to the coast
and descends to Cape
San Antonio. |
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El
Carrascar de la Font Roja nature park.
In the hinterlands of Alicante province,
between the towns of Alco and Ibi, there
is a fine Landscape featuring Mediterranean
pines and shrubbery of great botanical
interest. The history of this park dates
back to the 14th century. |
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The
Rock of Ifach nature park.
This enormous mass of calcareous rock
measuring some 50,000 m2 stands on the
coast, towering to 332 m. in height. It
is joined to the mainland by a narrow
isthmus. Ifach is noted for its autochthonous
rock plant life, some of which is unique
to this area. |
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The
Santa Pola Salt Flats nature park.
With a surface area of 2,470 ha, this
natural park presents a perfect example
of the integration of traditional economic
activities, such as salt manufacturing,
and the preservation of a wetland area
serving as a habitat for many species
of water birds. |
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El
Hondo nature park.
This nature park has an area of 2,380
ha and is made up of a series of marshes
that are similar to each other but offer
different habitats depending on the depth
and quality of their waters. |
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La
Mata and Torrevieja Salt Flats nature
park.
These salt flats, together with those
of El Hondo and Santa Pola, form a wetland
triangle which is of great importance
for migratory birds. With an area of 3,700
ha, these lagoons are used as nesting
sites and wintering area for over one
hundred species of water birds. |
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