Serranía de Ronda

The Serranía de Ronda is a comarca in the western part of the province of Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. As is currently (as of 2009) the norm in Andalusia, it has no formal status. The 2007 Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia, unlike its 1981 predecessor, mentions comarcas in Article 97 of Title III, which defines the significance of comarcas and establishes a basis for formal recognition in future legislation,[1] but no such legislation has yet been enacted.

Serranía de Ronda
Comarca
Farajan.
Farajan.
Location in the province of Málaga.
Location in the province of Málaga.
Country Spain
Autonomous communityAndalusia
ProvinceMálaga
CapitalRonda
Municipalities
List
Area
 • Total1,256 km2 (485 sq mi)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total55,835
 • Density44/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

Geography

It is an area of natural beauty and geographical diversity, popular with walkers, birdwatchers, climbers and potholers. It contains both the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park - reputedly one of the wettest regions in Spain - and the Sierra de las Nieves. The central town of Ronda is the administrative headquarters, perched on a high plateau, with numerous small, white villages dotted around the surrounding countryside.

There are limestone escarpments, cork forests and fields of wheat and sunflowers. Numerous small rivers cross the landscape. The climate is generally dry and hot in summer, with mild spring and autumn seasons. Winters can be very cold, particularly at night, and snow is not uncommon at the higher altitudes. Cloudless days in winter can be warm and bright, and the light is considered to be good for photography and painting.

Ornithologists value this area as a major migration route and some rare species can be seen.

Municipalities
Looking from a park in Ronda to the countryside below.

According to the Provincial Deputation of Málaga, the comarca consists of the following municipalities:

[2]

The Regional Government of Andalusia adds the municipalities of Cuevas del Becerro and El Burgo to this list.[3]

Statistics

Naturally, the basic statistics are slightly different, depending on whether or not Cuevas del Becerro and El Burgo are counted as part of the comarca.

  Population Surface area Population density
Provincial Deputation definition 54,547 1,256 km² 42.08 / km²
Autonomous Government definition 58,443 1,389 km² 42.08 / km²

[4]

Notes
  1. Tít. III. Art. 97. Comarcas – Estatuto de Autonomía de Andalucía 2007: "1. La comarca se configura como la agrupación voluntaria de municipios limítrofes con características geográficas, económicas, sociales e históricas afines. 2. Por ley del Parlamento de Andalucía podrá regularse la creación de comarcas, que establecerá, también, sus competencias. Se requerirá en todo caso el acuerdo de los Ayuntamientos afectados y la aprobación del Consejo de Gobierno."
  2. Serranía de Ronda Archived 2008-12-29 at the Wayback Machine, Diputación de Málaga. Accessed online 2009-12-21.
  3. ORDEN de 14 de marzo de 2003, por la que se aprueba el mapa de comarcas de Andalucía a efectos de la planificación de la oferta turística y deportiva, BOJA, 2003/59, 2003-03-27. Accessed online 2009-12-21.
  4. Based on 2006 numbers from the Instituto de Estadistica de Andalucía (IEA)
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36°37′26″N 5°13′28″W

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