Baix Vinalopó

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Baix Vinalopó
Baix Vinalopó  (Valencian)
Bajo Vinalopó  (Spanish)
Comarca
Mapa del Bajo Vinalopó.svg
Coordinates: 38°15′42″N 00°42′11″W / 38.26167°N 0.70306°W / 38.26167; -0.70306Coordinates: 38°15′42″N 00°42′11″W / 38.26167°N 0.70306°W / 38.26167; -0.70306
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
ProvinceAlicante / Alacant
CapitalElche
Municipalities
List
Area
 • Total488.78 km2 (188.72 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)[1]
 • Total293,775
 • Density600/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Largest municipalityElche / Elx

The Baix Vinalopó[a] (Spanish: Bajo Vinalopó,[b] lit. "Lower Vinalopó") is a comarca in the province of Alicante (Valencian Community, Spain). It is bordered by the comarques of Vinalopó Mitjà and Alacantí on the north and Vega Baja del Segura on the south. Its capital is the city of Elche/Elx, with a population of 232,517 in 2019.[2] The other major towns in the comarca are Crevillent/Crevillente and Santa Pola.

Vinalopó river flows through this comarca giving its name to it, even though nowadays is just a tiny stream more than a proper river. The territory is mostly flat except for some of the last ranges belonging to the Baetic System which appear here near the border with the neighbouring comarcas Vinalopó Mitjà, following a general southwest-northeast trend. The highest peaks are found in the Serra de Crevillent (Sierra de Crevillente), a mountain range close to Crevillent/Crevillente, being its highest the Sant Gaietà with its 816 metres, a local hiking attraction.

Its climate is dry, with scarce rainfalls—below the Mediterranean climate threshold—which happen mostly in Autumn and Spring amounting an average of 250–300 mm per year and showing relatively warm mean temperatures. Among the herbaceous species, esparto and shrub deserve to be mentioned due to their industrial value in the past. Some important natural places are the swamps in the lower part of the comarca known as El Fondo Natural Park and the Salines de Santa Pola Natural Park, both Ramsar sites.

The comarca is highly industrial, especially in its capital, Elche, and also in the town of Crevillent/Crevillente. Agriculture is also an important activity in the area. In the coastline around Santa Pola the main activity is tourism, fisheries and sea salt.

Torre de Tamarit in Salines de Santa Pola Natural Park

Municipalities[]

The comarca contains just three municipalities, listed below with their areas and populations:

Name Area
in km2 		Population
(2001)[3] 		Population
(2011)[4] 		Population
(2019)[5]
Crevillent / Crevillente 104.55 24,786 28,269 28,952
Elche / Elx 326.07 194,767 227,417 232,517
Santa Pola 58.16 19,782 32,454 32,306
Totals 488.78 239,335 288,140 293,775

Notes[]

  1. ^ Valencian pronunciation: [ˈbajʒ vinaloˈpo], locally [ˈba(j)ʒ vinaloˈpo]
  2. ^ Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbaxo βinaloˈpo]

References[]

  1. ^ Official estimate as at 1 January 2019: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2019.
  2. ^ Official estimate as at 1 January 2019: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2019.
  3. ^ Census of 1 November 2001: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2019.
  4. ^ Census of 1 November 2011: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2019.
  5. ^ Official estimate as at 1 January 2019: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid, 2019.
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