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| Barranc de l'Infern | |
|---|---|
| Name | Barranc de l'Infern |
| Location | Valencian Community, Spain |
| Nearest city | Benidorm, Altea, Callosa d'en Sarrià |
| Formed | Karst processes, Tectonics |
| Geology | Limestone, Dolomite |
| Protected area | Paraje Natural Municipal de Serra Gelada; Marina Baixa |
Barranc de l'Infern is a steep limestone gorge on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain. The ravine lies within a Mediterranean landscape shaped by karstification and Quaternary climatic cycles, connecting inland highlands near Sierra de Bernia with coastal zones adjacent to Benidorm and Altea. The site is noted for its dramatic cliffs, endemic biodiversity, and a historically important footpath that has attracted hikers, naturalists, and local conservationists.
Barranc de l'Infern occupies a corridor in the Marina Baixa comarca between the municipalities of Altea and Callosa d'en Sarrià, with proximate access from the urban areas of Benidorm and the transport network linking to Alicante–Elche–Miguel Hernández Airport. The ravine drains toward the Mediterranean Sea, intersecting watersheds that include tributaries studied by researchers from the University of Alicante and field teams associated with the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España. Its position at the interface of coastal and inland zones places it within ecological gradients recognized by regional planners from the Comunitat Valenciana and by conservation frameworks administered by the provincial authorities of Alicante (province).
The gorge formed in Mesozoic carbonate sequences dominated by limestone and dolomite deposited in Tethyan basins, later uplifted during the Alpine orogeny that affected the Iberian Plate. Differential erosion and chemical dissolution produced classic karst landforms, with vertical shafts, tufa deposits, and calcite speleothems in nearby cavities reported in surveys by the Spanish Geological Society. Episodes of Pleistocene fluvial incision and mass-wasting, influenced by climatic oscillations recorded in Mediterranean paleoclimate studies, deepened the canyon. Structural control by faults and joints related to regional tectonics guided torrent pathways, a subject of mapping by teams collaborating with the Instituto Geográfico Nacional.
Vegetation communities reflect Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub dominants, with ensembles including Quercus ilex and shrublands rich in Rosmarinus officinalis, Thymus spp., and endemic taxa noted by botanists at the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid. The ravine supports populations of wildlife documented by field surveys from the Sociedad Española de Ornitología and entomologists associated with the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Avian species such as Bonelli's eagle, peregrine falcon, and migrants using coastal flyways occur along the cliffs, while reptile assemblages include Podarcis hispanica and lacertid species studied in herpetological research at the University of Valencia. Riparian microhabitats host bryophytes and freshwater invertebrates catalogued by aquatic ecologists collaborating with the Consejería de Medio Ambiente de la Generalitat Valenciana.
Human interaction with the gorge spans prehistoric occupation, agrarian use, and modern recreational appreciation. Archaeological surveys referencing methodologies from the Museo Arqueológico Nacional have recorded lithic scatters and terracing that connect to broader patterns in Iberian Peninsula palaeohuman studies. Historical routes through the ravine formed part of transhumance and local trade networks similar to passages documented in regional monographs from the Archivo Histórico Provincial de Alicante. Cultural associations and local heritage groups such as municipal folklore committees in Altea and Callosa d'en Sarrià have preserved oral histories and place-names, connecting the ravine to traditions celebrated in festivals tied to the calendars of nearby parishes and institutions including diocesan archives.
The gorge is a focal point for hiking, canyoning, birdwatching, and geology-focused ecotours organized by outdoor operators registered with the Asociación Española de Guías de Montaña and local adventure companies based in Benidorm and Altea. Trailheads link to marked paths that converge with regional long-distance routes promoted by the Federación de Deportes de Montaña y Escalada de la Comunidad Valenciana. Guided excursions frequently involve training in safety standards from organisations such as the Real Federación Española de Salvamento y Socorrismo and collaborate with volunteer brigades from municipal emergency services. Visitor management strategies balance access with interpretive signage developed in partnership with the Centro de Interpretación Natural and university outreach programmes.
Conservation of the ravine has been addressed through municipal protected-area designations and landscape-scale planning congruent with directives promoted by the Comunitat Valenciana and advisory contributions from the European Union environmental initiatives. Management challenges include erosion control, invasive species monitoring, and pressures from recreational use; responses combine field monitoring by provincial technicians, citizen science projects coordinated with the SEO/BirdLife network, and habitat restoration actions informed by research at the Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos. Cross-institutional cooperation engages local councils, regional environmental agencies, and academic partners to implement measures consistent with Natura 2000 principles and regional planning tools aiming to conserve geological, botanical, and faunal values while enabling sustainable public use.
Category:Canyons of Spain Category:Landforms of the Valencian Community