Baix Vinalopó Explained

Baix Vinalopó
Native Name:
Settlement Type:Comarca
Coordinates:38.2617°N -0.7031°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Spain
Subdivision Type1:Autonomous community
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Alicante / Alacant
Seat Type:Capital
Seat:Elche
Parts Type:Municipalities
Parts Style:coll
P1:Elche / Elx, Crevillent / Crevillente, Santa Pola
Area Total Km2:488.78
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:293775
Population As Of:2019
Population Density Km2:auto
Blank Name Sec1:Largest municipality
Blank Info Sec1:Elche / Elx
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Area Code Type:Dialing code

The Baix Vinalopó (Spanish; Castilian: '''Bajo Vinalopó''', 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.

Municipalities

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

NameArea
in km2
Population
(2001)
[3]
Population
(2011)
[4]
Population
(2019)
[5]
Crevillent / Crevillentealign=right 104.55align=right 24,786align=right 28,269align=right 28,952
Elche / Elxalign=right 326.07align=right 194,767align=right 227,417align=right 232,517
Santa Polaalign=right 58.16align=right 19,782align=right 32,454align=right 32,306
Totalsalign=right 488.78align=right 239,335align=right 288,140align=right 293,775

Notes and 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.