Serra de Na Burguesa

Serra de Na Burguesa
Highest point
Peak Puig d'en Bou
Elevation 503 m (1,650 ft)
Coordinates 39°34′14.75″N 02°33′27.92″E / 39.5707639°N 2.5577556°E / 39.5707639; 2.5577556Coordinates: 39°34′14.75″N 02°33′27.92″E / 39.5707639°N 2.5577556°E / 39.5707639; 2.5577556 
Geography
Country Spain
State/Province Majorca
Antoni Gelabert painting of Serra de Na Burguesa

Serra de Na Burguesa (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsɛrə ðə nə burˈɣəzə], formerly Serra de Portopí or Sierra de Porto Pi, meaning "Port of Pine Mountain") is a well-defined mountain on the island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is the southernmost portion of the Serra de Tramuntana range, terminating in the Mediterranean Sea at Bay of Palma.[1] Na Burguesa is located approximately halfway between Santa Ponsa and Palma. The municipality of Calvià is located between Na Burguesa and Serra de Tramuntana.

History

The mountain's name of Serra de Portopí predates the name Serra de Na Burguesa. Serra de Portopí gained historical significance in 1229 when King James II of Aragon crossed it with his troops, and regained Palma for Spain from the occupying Moors. In present day, Portopí refers to a neighborhood located in the district west of Palma de Mallorca. The later name, Serra de Na Burguesa, honors Francesc Burgués, the Solicitor-General of the Spanish Crown,[2] who, from the early sixteenth century, owned the Bendinat farm at the foot of the mountain. Bendinat is now a residential zone in Calvià.

Geography

The mountain's average height is approximately 400 m (1,300 ft) above sea level, characterized by a low range of hills and steep-sided valleys.[3] Its highest peaks are Puig den Bou at 503 m (1,650 ft), and Puig Gros de Bendinat at 486 m (1,594 ft),[3] Subsequent to fires on Na Burguesa, a fire tower was built on the 432 m (1,417 ft) Es Pi de ses Creus.[3] Fire tracks now traverse the entire crest of Na Burguesa.[3] There are numerous cave systems on Na Burguesa,[4] and important archaeological discoveries have been made in the caves.[3]

Mirador de n'Alzamora is a natural terrace on Na Burguesa. Until the early twentieth century, summer grazing herds could be found in the Coll dels Pastors 443 m (1,453 ft), the mountain's central highlands. High levels of chlorides have been found in some of the mountain's aquifers.[5]

Fauna and flora

It is characterized by a significant mass of pine trees and Mediterranean maquis. In addition, there are oaks, strawberry trees, roses, wild gladiola,[6] and flowering shrubs.[3] There are lizards, butterflies and insects.

Tourism

Na Burguesa is popular amongst tourists for its walking and mountain biking trails.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Mallorca: geography and landscape". balearesfilm.com. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "CAN BURGUES. Home to the Solicitor-General of the Crown". balearsculturaltour.org. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Parker, June; Dillon, Paddy (2007). Walking in Mallorca. International Walk'g Series Cicerone Guides. Cicerone Press Limited. p. 331. ISBN 1-85284-488-4.
  4. ↑ "Calvià, things to do in the countryside". spain.info. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  5. ↑ Fernández, Santiago Castaño; Aranda, Salomón Montesinos (2002). ISLA, land and water management in Mediterranean islands using earth observation data: final report. Volume 35 of Colección Ciencia y técnica. European Commission. Directorate General for Research. RTD Actions : Environment and Climate. Univ de Castilla La Mancha. p. 82. ISBN 84-8427-154-4.
  6. ↑ "Sierra de Na Burguesa Panoramawanderung hoch über der Hauptstadt der Balearen" (PDF). mallorca-wandern.de (in German). Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  7. ↑ "Serra de na Burguesa – Gebirge im Südwesten Mallorcas". mallorcastrand.de (in German). Retrieved 20 June 2010.

Further reading

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