Serra del Turmell

Serra del Turmell, also known as Serra del Mont Turmell,[1] (Spanish: Sierra del Turmell) is an over 12 km (7 mi) long mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain.

Serra del Turmell
View of the wooded northern slopes of the range and the Cervol River
Highest point
PeakTossal Gros or El Turmell
Elevation1,276 m (4,186 ft)
ListingList of mountains in the Valencian Community
Coordinates40°34′31″N 0°9′5″E 
Dimensions
Length12 km (7.5 mi) E/W
Width3 km (1.9 mi) N/S
Geography
Serra del Turmell
Location in Spain
LocationBaix Maestrat, Valencian Community
Parent rangeIberian System, eastern end
Geology
Type of rockLimestone
View of the southern slopes of the range with the exposed bare rock

These mountains and their neighboring ranges are a desolate place with little human habitation. Their summits are frequently covered in snow in the winter. The Cervol River has its sources in this range.

There was much activity of the Spanish Maquis in this range and the neighboring areas after the Spanish Civil War and well into the 1960s.[2]

Geography

The highest point in the Serra del Turmell range is 1,276 m high Tossal Gros, also known as El Turmell, meaning 'the ankle'. Another important peak is the Mola de Penyablanca. There is a cellular repeater and other antennas atop the highest peak. There is also a shrine or small chapel dedicated to Saint Agatha in the high slopes of the range.[3]

This mountain chain rises east of Rossell town and its western end merges with the Serra de Vallivana range in the area of the Port de Querol mountain pass in the N-232 road. The easiest route to reach the range is from Xert, Vallibona or Morella.

Ecology

The northern slopes of the Serra del Turmell are covered with Mediterranean forest of holm oak and pine, while the southern slopes are almost denuded of vegetation with the grey limestone rocks exposed among scattered clumps of shrub.[4] There are large prey birds such as the griffon vulture, as well as wild animals such as the Spanish ibex, roe deer and wild boar.

The ranges of this sparsely populated mountain area have the most important forested zone of the region. Thus the area of this range together with the neighboring Tinença de Benifassà and Serra de Vallivana was declared a Site of Community Importance by the European Union under the name Tinença de Benifassà, Turmell i Vallivana.[5]

See also

References
  1. Vicenç M. Rosselló i Verger, Toponímia, geografia i cartografia
  2. Jose Calvo Segarra, La pastora. Del monte al mito, ed. by Odette Calvo
  3. Chapel of St Agatha Vallibona Picture
  4. José Quereda Sala, Les Moles de Xert,; Análisis Geomorfológico (in Spanish)
  5. European Parliament - SCI and ZEPA ‘Tinença de Benifassà, Turmell i Vallivana’
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