NATURE

In Pilar de la Horadada, both on the coast and inland, we find large areas of great ecological and scenic value. In its most accessible area we can enjoy a urban dry riverbed area which serves a green lung for the town, as well as another riverbed which allows us to enjoy the environment and the landscape, some mountains of landscape and ecological significance, hills covered with pine trees where we find oaks and strawberry trees, wide sandy beaches and small coves with beautiful and diverse seabed.

Inland areas

Birds are diverse and from various species in the areas of brushes and scrubland, among of them we find warblers, song thrushes, shrikes and birds of beautiful birdsongs such as the common blackbird, carduelis and greenfinches. The most common birds of prey are the common kestrel and the sparrowhawk, but also can be seen golden eagles, short-toed snake eagles and booted eagles. Among the mammals that inhabit this area the wildcat, the genet, the dormouse and several species of bats are worth to mention.

In the mountain areas there are several unique species, such as orchids and plants of interest due to their medicinal and culinary uses such as the thyme, the sunset foxglove,  the chamomile or the juniper.

The Rio Seco riverbed and its surrounding areas are populated by birds such as the warblers, the orioles, the bee-eaters and others linked to water as the kingfisher, the little egret and the grey heron, birds which also supplement their diet on the coast. Among the mammals we shall mention the foxes, squirrels, hedgehogs and rabbits among the most common in the area of the river. Regarding to the botanical species associated with these type of riverbeds, we normally find the reed, the rattan, the tamarisk, and reeds, surrounded by a large pine forest.

A special mention must to be done to the White-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala), which is threatened with extinction (Decree 32/2004) and lives and nests in the en el Municipal Natural Site Lo Monte Ponds, which was opened in 2014. Location on Google Maps.

 

 

In addition to Lo Monte, in Pilar de la Horadada we find more natural sites. For instance, in Pinar de Campoverde there is Rio Seco, a place from which two hiking routes: are designed. The first route (about 4km long) entirely runs through this area whereas the second route (about 10 km long - ROUTE CLOSED TEMPORARILY) , passes through the natural are "Lo Monte" and ends in the natural area of Mil Palmeras, a fequented place by many families who choose this place to go with children to spend their spare tiem under the shade of the tall trees planted there.

Here you can download a map of the are with the four natural areas described above: See map

 

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Urban Boulevard "La Rambla"

The "Rambla" is the main green lung of the town. A total amount of 3 km. with the startpoint in the city centre of Pilar de la Horadada and the end in Las Higuericas Beach. The 6km round trip have been marked under the new Senda del Pilar al Mar, which can be done on foot, by bike or skate... at your choice!

In the northern part of the bouleverad we can find the "Puente del Beso" (in English: The Kissing Bridge), a civil work which has been listed by the International Concrete Federation as one of the 10 best works of concrete in the world thanks to its aesthetic and technical innovation. The bridge is inspired by origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, making the image of two birds before starting the flight.

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Coastal areas

Under its surface the sea offers an incredible variety of living creatures and of scenery. Sandy sea floors alternate with occasional rocks and the great prairies of Posidonia, creating a rich, varied habitat where the fauna teem incessantly. A huge diversity of invertebrate species – molluscs and flat fish like plaice - lives on the extensive sands of Pilar de la Horadada.

The prairies of Posidonia which exist along the coast oxygenate the water and protect the sea floor and beaches from erosion. In them, apart  from seahorses, pipefish, wrasse and other species, the young of many commercial species, such as the grouper, gilthead or denton. There is also the chance of finding the smallest fish in the Mediterranean, the Posidonia fish.

 

 

 

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