Baix Vinalopó

The Baix Vinalopó (Valencian pronunciation: [ˈbajʒ vinaloˈpo]; Spanish: Bajo 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 Elx/Elche, with a population of 232,517 in 2019.[2] The other major towns in the comarca are Crevillent and Santa Pola.

Baix Vinalopó
Comarca
Coordinates: 38°15′42″N 00°42′11″W
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
ProvinceAlicante
CapitalElx/Elche
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 municipalityElx/Elche

Vinalopó river flows through this comarca giving its name to it (Baix Vinalopó is Valencian for "Lower Vinalopó"), 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, a mountain range close to Crevillent, 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, Elx/Elche, and also in the town of Crevillent. 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 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

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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