Geography Valencian Community

1 geography

1.1 relief
1.2 climate
1.3 hydrography

geography
relief

satellite picture of valencian country; dry area in south noticed. original nasa

the inland part of territory craggy, of highest peaks in valencia , castellón provinces forming part of iberian mountain range. mountains in province of alicante in turn part of subbaetic range.

the emblematic mountain of valencian community penyagolosa, in alcalatén area. thought highest peak 1,813 m, highest peak calderón (1,839 m) located in rincón de ademuz, valencian exclave between aragon , castilla–la mancha. emblematic mountain in southern part of territory aitana (1,558 m).

the rather thin coastal strip fertile plain free of remarkable mountains except around cap de la nau area in northern alicante province , peñíscola (peníscola) area in castellón province. typical of coastal area wetlands , marshlands such l albufera close valencia, el fondo in elche (elx) , crevillent, la marjal near pego or el prat in cabanes, former wetlands , salt evaporation ponds in santa pola , torrevieja area. of them key ramsar sites make valencia of high relevance both migratory , resident seabirds , waterbirds.

there many important coastal dunes in saler area near albufera , in guardamar area, both of them planted thousands of trees during 19th century in order fix dunes, forming protected areas of remarkable ecologic value.

in addition mainland valencia, valencian territory administers tiny columbretes islands , coastal inhabited islet of tabarca.

climate

dénia, capital of marina alta

valencia has mild climate, heavily influenced neighbouring mediterranean sea. still, there important differences between areas:

proper mediterranean climate (köppen csa). goes along coastal plain northernmost border through benidorm area (cities included here are, amongst others, castellón de la plana, gandia , valencia). covers in various grades lower inland areas. in area, winters cool, summers long, dry , hot; rainfall occurs during spring , autumn, totalling around 600 mm. remarkably wetter micro climate in marina alta , safor comarques north of cap de la nau cape, accumulates average of 1000 mm. due orographic lift phenomenon.
mediterranean continental mediterranean climate (köppen csa) , highland climate (köppen h). these innermost lands , @ higher elevation (cities included here are, amongst others, alcoy, morella, requena , villena). here winters cool cold, @ night (a few days of snow not unusual), summers mild hot , rainfall more evenly distributed through year. lower registered temperatures in valencian community in these inland areas during cold wave of 1956. temperatures plunged −20 °c; in vistabella del maestrat (−19 °c) , castellfort (–17 °c).
semi-arid climate (köppen bsh) arid climate (köppen bwh), although in zones @ interior average temperatures lower, being bsk bwk in köppen climate classification. goes along coastal plain villajoyosa through southernmost border of territory (cities included here are, amongst others, alicante, elche, orihuela , torrevieja). summers long, hot hot , dry, winters cool mild , prominent feature scarce precipitation, typically below 300 mm. per year happen during spring , autumn. reason lack of precipitation marked rain shadow effect caused hills west of alicante province (and, lesser degree, in northern part of province which, in turn, enhance inverse orographic lift effect around cap de la nau).

hydrography

there 2 major rivers: segura in province of alicante, source in andalusia, , júcar (xúquer) in province of valencia, source in castilla–la mancha. both subjected intense human regulation cities, industries and, especially, agricultural consumption. river turia (túria) third largest , has source in aragon. rivers in area, such vinalopó, short, have little current (due agricultural usage, climatic reasons or both) , dry during summer. other valencian rivers serpis , sénia.