Garraf

The comarca of Garraf is located in the province of Barcelona, ​​the Autonomous Community of Catalonia (Spain). The community association has an area of ​​184.12 km ² and 126 556 inhabitants (2009 ). Garraf is one of the smallest Comarcas Catalonia.

Location

The community association is located in the south of the central part of Catalonia between the provincial capitals of Barcelona and Tarragona. It is bordered on the east by the comarca of the Baix Llobregat, in the north of the comarca of Alt Penedès, on the west by the comarca of Baix Penedès and on the south by 29 km long coastline of the Costa del Garraf the Mediterranean. Together with the Comarcas Alt Penedès, Baix Llobregat, Barcelonès, Maresme, Vallès Occidental and Vallès Oriental is the region 's territory Àmbit Metropolità de Barcelona.

The landscape is dominated by the mountains of the Garraf in the east and north. The coast to the Mediterranean is steeply sloping and rocky. The southwestern part Garraf lies in a plane. The coast here forms numerous fine sandy beaches. In the far west of the river Foix flows through the Comarca from north to south and flows into the Mediterranean Cubelles. North of the mountains of the Garraf is the level of the Penedès, which is an important wine-growing region. Together with the districts of Alt Penedes and Baix Penedes forms Garraf the natural region of Penedès.

Nature parks

More than half of the territory of the comarca form a 123.8 km ² crisscrossed with hiking trails Garraf Natural Park.

In the north- west is the smaller nature park Olèrdola. From the highest peak, the Puig de l' Aliga ( 465 meters ), one has a view far into the plane of the Penedès.

To the west of the comarca and in the area of the comarca of Alt Penedès is the Natural Park of Foix. The river landscape of Foix is moist, unlike the other two parks. In the center of the park, in the field of Alt Penedès, is an artificial lake, which was designed as a water reservoir for drinking water supply in the region. This place is a sanctuary for numerous bird species. There are already 143 species have been cataloged.

Economy

The plain before the mountains of the Garraf is used for agriculture. Attached is mainly wine. An important role of tourism in coastal communities Sitges and Cubelles. The capital city of Vilanova i la Geltrú is a center of commerce, small business and services, but also a modern industry that has settled in the outskirts of the city. The Port of Vilanova i la Geltrú is one of the largest in Catalonia.

Traffic

Until 1994, the mountains of the Garraf formed a natural barrier between Barcelona and Garraf. The construction of the C-32 motorway and the tunnel under the mountains of the Garraf, by 2 long tunnel sections, the Comarca received a good public transport links to the airport and Barcelona. Garraf is involved ( Cercanías line C2 - Sud) of Barcelona in the S -Bahn network.

Communities

(2009)