Serra de Monchique

The Serra de Monchique (Monchique Range) is a chain of mountains in the western part of the Algarve region of Portugal, about 20 km inshore. The chain's highest point is the peak of Fóia, at 902 m. 774 m high Picota is another notable peak.

Monchique Range
Serra de Monchique
View of the Serra de Monchique
Highest point
Peak	Fóia
Elevation	902 m (2,959 ft)
Coordinates	37°19′N 8°36′W
Dimensions
Length	32 km (20 mi) NE/SW
Width	7 km (4.3 mi) NW/SE
Geography
Monchique Range
Country	Portugal
Region	Algarve
Range coordinates	37°19′N 8°36′W
Geology
Orogeny	Alpine
Rock age	Late Cretaceous
Rock type(s)	Syenite, slate

Description

The Monchique Range is the southwesternmost mountain range of the Iberian Peninsula. It is covered in forest and parts of the range have been transformed into eucalyptus, pine and acacia plantations which are detrimental to the native forest cover.^[1] The range is named after the town of Monchique, located in the area.^[2] Caldas de Monchique is a well-known spa town with geothermal springs also located in this range.

Rivers Seixe, Aljezur and Odiáxere have their sources in this range.

Geology

The Monchique Range is part of the Late-Cretaceous Iberian Alkaline Igneous Province and is related to the Mount Ormonde seamount in the Gorringe Bank.^[3] The inselberg is formed primarily of nepheline-syenites (foyaite, for which 'Foia' is the type locality). At c.63 km² Monchique the fourth largest miaskitic nepheline-syenite intrusion so far discovered. It is assumed to be of 'laccolithic' form, from its regular contact altitude to the Breijera formation (country rock).^[4] Pegmatites of similar foyaitic composition are seen within the mass at two locations and an associated dyke swarm of lamprophyres and picrites extends some 3 km from the mountain. the psammite/shale/marl country rocks of the Breijera formation are well exposed to the west of Serra de Monchique, forming jagged outcrops and dramatic gorges, which since the destructive introduction of eucalyptus farming in 1976,^[5] now run dry most of the year round.

Ecology

Serra de Monchique is threatened by continued aggressive eucalyptus 'cash-crop' farming, recent publications have shown the water table to be lowering significantly and many endemic species to be on the brink of extinction, including the Bonellis Eagle,^[6] the Iberian emerald lizard^[7] and many more listed under European Union protection. The area is protected as Natura 2000 site (Monchique, EU code PTCON0037), as both a Special Protection Area under the Birds Directive and a Site of Community Importance under the Habitats Directive.^[8]

Boundaries of the area protected under the Natura 2000 network

• 
  View of Monchique
• 
  View of the rough Algarvian terrain and the Atlantic Ocean
• 
  Eucalyptus plantations
• 
  Stream at Barranco de Pisões

See also

• Geography of Portugal
• Geology of the Iberian Peninsula