| Monchique Range | |
|---|---|
| Serra de Monchique | |
 View of the Serra de Monchique | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Fóia |
| Elevation | 902 m (2,959 ft) |
| Coordinates | 37°19′N8°36′W / 37.317°N 8.600°W /37.317; -8.600 |
| 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′N8°36′W / 37.317°N 8.600°W /37.317; -8.600 |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Alpine |
| Rock age | Late Cretaceous |
| Rock type(s) | Syenite,slate |
TheSerra de Monchique (Monchique Range) is a chain of mountains in the western part of theAlgarve region ofPortugal, about 20 km inshore. The chain's highest point is the peak ofFóia, at 902 m. 774 m high Picota is another notable peak.
The Monchique Range is the southwesternmost mountain range of theIberian Peninsula. It is covered in forest and parts of the range have been transformed intoeucalyptus,pine andacacia plantations which are detrimental to the native forest cover.[1]The range is named after the town ofMonchique, located in the area.[2]Caldas de Monchique is a well-knownspa town withgeothermal springs also located in this range.
RiversSeixe,Aljezur andOdiáxere have their sources in this range.
The Monchique Range is part of the Late-Cretaceous Iberian Alkaline Igneous Province and is related to theMount Ormondeseamount in theGorringe 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 oflamprophyres andpicrites 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 ofeucalyptus farming in 1976,[5] now run dry most of the year round.
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, includingthe Bonellis Eagle,[6] theIberian emerald lizard[7] and many more listed underEuropean Union protection. The area is protected asNatura 2000 site (Monchique, EU code PTCON0037), as both aSpecial Protection Area under theBirds Directive and aSite of Community Importance under theHabitats Directive.[8]
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Media related toSerra de Monchique at Wikimedia Commons