This mass of mountains locates in the south of the Jaén
countryside, some 30 km away from the capital.
It
borders on the depressions of the Guadalquivir and the
Guadiana Menor at north and east, an on the foothills
of the Lucena mountain chain at south. It is an isolated
massif, the shelter of a rich Mediterranean flora including
species of a very restricted distribution and endemic
species.
The Mágina Peak is the highest point of the province
with 2167 metres. It forms a block together with the hills
named Loma Lisa and Loma de los Bolos whose lowest elevation
is 800 meters high.
The limestone rocks provoke a landscape made of karstic
rocky formations and hills that house typical Mediterranean
vegetation and due to the permeability of the ground,
give rise to subterranean aquifers.
It was declared Natural Park in 1989 by a law. It is
part of the subbetica mountain chains and divides in two
different areas: on the north, the mountain belonging
the elongated Bética Mountain Chain made of resistant
carbonate rocks and abundant slopes and strong inclines
and the Guadalquivir Valley, soft uneven depression with
little valleys.
Olive is the largest culture in the park, along with the
fig trees and cherry trees. The most interesting activities
available in the park are the observation of birds and
mammals, trekking and speleology. The most outstanding
routes have the following names Gibralberca, Fuenmayor,
Adelfal de Cuadros and Las Viñas.
The Natural Park was the natural border between the Muslim
and Christian territories during the XIII and XV centuries;
therefore, threre is still many fortifications and castles
in the villages of the park.
Location: Albánchez
de Mágina, Bedmar y Garcíez, Bélmez
de la Moraleda, Cambil, Huelma, Jimena, Jódar,
Pegalajar and Torres.
Area: 19.900 hectares.
Most common animal species:
Predatory birds: royal and Bonelli's eagles, common hawk,
kestrel; ring ouzel, red thrush, finch, greenfinch and
goldfrinch; wild goat, boar and genet.
Mos
common vegetation: Holm, gall oak, mastic tree,
Spanish pine, and barberry.
Access: free.
How to arrive: From the
south of Andalucía, the Granada highway or highway
A-324; from Granada and Ubeda highway A-301 and from Jaén,
highway A-316.
Map of Sierra Mágina, Natural Park.
