Serra da Malagueta, Mountain range on Santiago Island, Cape Verde
Serra da Malagueta is a mountain range on Santiago Island that reaches an elevation of 3,491 feet (1,064 meters) and consists primarily of basalt rock formed by ancient volcanic activity.
The mountain range formed between 2.9 and 2.4 million years ago through volcanic eruptions during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, creating the basalt formations visible today across the landscape.
Local communities have traditionally used the slopes of Serra da Malagueta for agriculture and livestock grazing, with the mountains serving as a natural landmark for villages in the surrounding area.
The mountain range is part of Serra Malagueta Natural Park, covering 774 hectares and accessible via dirt roads, with the best visiting period from November to June during the dry season.
The natural park protects 124 plant species including 28 endemic varieties found nowhere else, and hosts eight endemic bird species such as the Cape Verde warbler and Cape Verde buzzard.
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