- Baix Vinalopó
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More important cities by:The Baix Vinalopó (in Valencian) is a "comarca" in the
province of Alicante (Valencian Community ,Spain ). It is bordered by the "comarques" ofVinalopó Mitjà andAlacantí on the north andVega Baja del Segura on the south. Its capital is the city ofElche , which has a total population of around 200,000 people. The other major towns in the comarca areCrevillent andSanta Pola .Vinalopó river flows through this "comarca" giving its name to it ("Baix Vinalopó" is Valencian for "Lower Vinalopó"), even though nowadays is just a tiny stream more than a proper river. The territory is mostly flat except for some of the last ranges belonging to theBaetic Cordillera which appear here near the border with the neighbouring "comarcas"Vinalopó Medio , following a general southwest-northeast trend. The highest peaks are found in theSierra de Crevillente , a mountain range close to Crevillente, being its highest the "Sant Gaietà" with its 816 metres, a local hiking attraction.Its
climate is dry, with scarce rainfalls—below theMediterranean climate threshold—which happen mostly in Autumn and Spring amounting an average of 250–300 mm per year and showing relatively warm mean temperatures. Among theherb aceous species,esparto andshrub deserve to be mentioned due to their industrial value in the past. Some important natural places are the swamps in the lower part of the comarca known asNatural Park of Fondó and theNatural Park of Las Salinas de Santa Pola , bothRAMSAR sites.The comarca is highly industrial, especially in its capital, Elche, and also in the town of Crevillente. Agriculture is also an important activity in the area. In the coastline around Santa Pola the main activity is tourism, fisheries and sea salt.
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