{"id":2243,"date":"2020-01-06T06:02:31","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T05:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/torcal-de-antequera\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T11:37:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T10:37:51","slug":"malaga-torcal-de-antequera-protected-natural-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/malaga-torcal-de-antequera-protected-natural-site\/","title":{"rendered":"Torcal de Antequera Natural Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>M\u00c1LAGA <\/strong>&#8211; <strong>One of the most prestigious karst geographic features in Europe, a mountain range that never tires of surprising the traveler.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-4 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Capra-ibex-circle.png\" data-id=\"29196\" alt=\"Capra pyrenaica Andalousie\" class=\"wp-image-29196 lazyload\" title=\"Capra-ibex-circle\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"667\" height=\"667\" data-id=\"29196\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Capra-ibex-circle.png\" alt=\"Capra pyrenaica Andalousie\" class=\"wp-image-29196\" title=\"Capra-ibex-circle\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Capra-ibex-circle.png 667w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Capra-ibex-circle-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Capra-ibex-circle-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circle-cropped5.png\" data-id=\"19846\" alt=\"Monticola solitarius Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19846 lazyload\" title=\"Monticola solitarius\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"942\" height=\"942\" data-id=\"19846\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circle-cropped5.png\" alt=\"Monticola solitarius Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19846\" title=\"Monticola solitarius\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circle-cropped5.png 942w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circle-cropped5-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circle-cropped5-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/circle-cropped5-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 942px) 100vw, 942px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Ophrys-lutea.png\" data-id=\"19880\" alt=\"Ophrys lutea Torcal de Antequera\" class=\"wp-image-19880 lazyload\" title=\"Ophrys lutea\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"546\" height=\"546\" data-id=\"19880\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Ophrys-lutea.png\" alt=\"Ophrys lutea Torcal de Antequera\" class=\"wp-image-19880\" title=\"Ophrys lutea\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Ophrys-lutea.png 546w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Ophrys-lutea-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Ophrys-lutea-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Emberiza-cirlus.png\" data-id=\"19878\" alt=\"Emberiza cirlus Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19878 lazyload\" title=\"Emberiza cirlus\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"747\" data-id=\"19878\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Emberiza-cirlus.png\" alt=\"Emberiza cirlus Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19878\" title=\"Emberiza cirlus\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Emberiza-cirlus.png 747w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Emberiza-cirlus-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Emberiza-cirlus-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El <strong>Torcal de Antequera<\/strong>, located at the crossroads of the roads linking Seville &#8211; Granada and Cordoba &#8211; Malaga, is an area classified as a <strong>natural site<\/strong>, with an area of 1,171 ha (11.7 km2). It <strong>is famous for its geology<\/strong> and belongs to a group of mountains of limestone origin, of small extension and more than 1,000 meters above sea level, which connects the western Betic mountain ranges (Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves) with the eastern Betic mountain ranges (Sierra Gorda, Sierra Almijara, etc.) and dominates the Antequera Depression, a prelude to the Guadalquivir Depression.   <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG-20230124-WA0009.jpg\" alt=\"torcal de antequera\" class=\"wp-image-27349 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"935\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG-20230124-WA0009.jpg\" alt=\"torcal de antequera\" class=\"wp-image-27349\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG-20230124-WA0009.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG-20230124-WA0009-380x254.jpg 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/IMG-20230124-WA0009-800x534.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The modeling of the Antequera karst is impressive.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Torcal is <strong>one of the most famous karst formations in Europe<\/strong> due to its majestic, eroded and <strong>ruiniform<\/strong> reliefs.<strong> <\/strong>that form a labyrinth of strangely shaped stones. An unforgettable landscape that transports the visitor away from his daily life and evokes a primitive and ancient nature: undoubtedly, the most zen of the Andalusian landscapes.   <\/p>\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\" class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-accent-4-background-color has-background\">\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-1\">&#8220;THE&#8221; Torcal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-2\">Limestone saw<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-3\">Karst<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-4\">Spanish Ibex<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-5\">Orchids<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The landscape that most surprises the traveler<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This extraordinary rock formation is the result of <strong>a long and complex geological history<\/strong>. El Torcal is an open book that stretches before our eyes and tells the story of the Earth&#8217;s history of millions of years in which episodes of marine sedimentation, transformation of limestone substrates, alpine folding and the appearance of the mountain, followed by fractures and erosion finally reveals the karst forms as they are known today and continue to be modified little by little.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0438.jpg\" alt=\"Tracks of Ammonite, extinct cephalopod mollusks, in Torcal de Antequera\" class=\"wp-image-3788 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0438.jpg\" alt=\"Tracks of Ammonite, extinct cephalopod mollusks, in Torcal de Antequera\" class=\"wp-image-3788\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0438.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_0438-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Tracks of Ammonite, extinct cephalopod mollusks, in the Torcal de Antequera.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">El Torcal is the land of the &#8220;torcas&#8221;, a term that designates the circular depressions characteristic of the erosion of limestone rocks in a karstic context, also known as dolinas (see note) or sinkholes. The Torcas de los Palancares in the Serran\u00eda de Cuenca are famous. Paradoxes of Andalusia, <strong>a &#8220;torca&#8221; is a basin, El Torcal is a mountain range!<\/strong>  <strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3191.jpg\" alt=\"Torcal de Antequera, Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-3790 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3191.jpg\" alt=\"Torcal de Antequera, Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-3790\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3191.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3191-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The round, green shapes of the hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) contrast sharply with the horizontal rock layers.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the rock formations stand out in this landscape, the wildlife should not be neglected. Calcareous grasslands, rich in about thirty species of orchids, including the <g id=\"gid_0\">male orchid<\/g><g id=\"gid_1\">(Orchis anthropophora<\/g>), the <g id=\"gid_2\">black orchid<\/g><g id=\"gid_3\">(Ophrys fusca<\/g>) and the <g id=\"gid_4\">yellow orchid<\/g><g id=\"gid_5\">(Ophrys lutea<\/g>). Of the fauna, the <strong>Iberian mountain goat<\/strong><em>(Capra pyrenaica<\/em>) is relatively easy to see locally.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_6058.jpg\" alt=\"Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica)\" class=\"wp-image-3785 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_6058.jpg\" alt=\"Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica)\" class=\"wp-image-3785\" title=\"\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The Spanish Ibex male (Capra pyrenaica) exhibits strong horns that are used in ritual fights and mark his dominance status.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Sierra del Torcal de Antequera is the most impressive and well known, however, <strong>there are other very interesting<\/strong> and less known <strong>torcales<\/strong> in the province of Malaga, such as <strong>Los Riscos de <\/strong><strong>Cartajima<\/strong> in the Genal Valley and <strong>La Utrera<\/strong> <strong>de Casares<\/strong> on the Costa del Sol.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1349\" height=\"95\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png 1349w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-380x27.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-800x56.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1349px) 100vw, 1349px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Note<\/strong>. the words &#8220;doline&#8221; and &#8220;karst&#8221; come from Slavic, respectively &#8220;valley&#8221; and &#8220;rocks&#8221;. The locality of Grast (Karst) is a limestone plateau, located in Slovenia, which inspired the use of the root in geology.  <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A mountain range that never tires of surprising the traveler. &#8220;THE&#8221; Torcal de Antequera : Limestone mountain range ; Karst ; Mountain goat ; Orchids.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[561],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-natural-protected-areas-in-andalusia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}