Cape Cope & Calnegre Tips

CAPE COPE

Cape Cope is a limestone land which projected out into the Gulf of Mazarrón (between Cape Palos and Cabo de Gata). It administratively belongs to the town of Aguilas in Murcia. The eastern side of Cabo Cope, is the Ensenada de la Fuente, named for the fresh water with a fortification called Cope Tower or Holy Christ. On the west side is the hamlet of Calabardina.

CALNEGRE TIPS

NATURAL PARK OF CAPE COPE AND CALNEGRE TIPS

Natural Park of Cape Cope and Calnegre Tips is a protected area between the cities of Lorca and Aguilas, which protects a swath of 17 km of pristine beaches along the Bay of Mazarrón. However, the park is threatened by the development of the Marina de Cope project, which envisages the redevelopment of much of it to build a resort.

Remains have been found dating from the Neolithic caves of Cape Cope. In addition, there was a settlement Argaric in Cerro de la Cruz. Cope Tower was built in the sixteenth century, in order to alert and protect themselves from pirate raids. In 1974 was the scene of opposition to the installation of a nuclear power plant by Spanish Hydro, which should be operational in 1980.


It was declared a Natural Park by the law of the Autonomous Community of Murcia (Law on Protection and Land Management in the Region of Murcia, 1992). Included within the SPA Sierra de la Almenara, Cabo Cope and Mulberry and is declared as SCI (Site of Community Importance) and LIC Calnegre and LIC-Cabo Cope. A series of cliffs and coves along the coast providing a unique landscape along 17 km of unspoilt coastline and the results of habitat diversity in a large biodiversity.

FLORA

There are many elements of natural heritage botanist. The vascular flora up to 322 species and subspecies. Many of them are considered of great interest because they are Ibero-North African and plants are survivors of the era in which Africa and Europe joined. It also highlights the Corsican population of juniper in Cabo Cope, who is separated from the rest of its range.

FAUNA

Among the wildlife that lives in the park stands the tortoise and the eagle, which in Spain are considered endangered species. Also among the reptiles you can find copies of natterjack toad, Iberian lizard, red-tailed lizard.

AVIFAUNA

Among the avifauna can be found both prey like owls and the peregrine falcon, as interior birds: Lark, curlew, chatterbox, Sardinian warbler, or the little trumpeter finch (found in the threatened category in the Iberian Peninsula .) Among marine species, gulls, terns and shags. Among the mammals that inhabit the park include fox, rabbit and wild boar. Marine species are also plentiful in the large field of oceanic Posidonia