Alicante (in Valencian, Alacant) is a Spanish province. One is in the coast this of the Iberian Peninsula, and is the most southern and less extensive province of the Valencian Community (16.94% of its territory). However, it is the fifth province more populated with the country, with 1.732.389 inhabitants according to the update of the register in 2005. Its capital is the city of Alicante. The province of Alicante limits the west with the provinces of Murcia and Albacete, the north with Valencia, and the east with the Mediterranean Sea. After the capital, the municipalities more populating with the province are: Elche, Torrevieja, Orihuela, Benidorm, Alcoy, Elda, San Vicente of the Raspeig, Denia, Villena, Petrer, Jávea and Villajoyosa. For more information it see the list of municipalities of Alicante.
Physical geography
Orography
The province has a quite mountainous and rough relief, with the exception of some fluvial valleys to the south. Their mountains comprise of the Bético system and form several parallel chains, directed of southwest to the northeast, between which are the mountain ranges of Mariola, of the Carrasqueta de Crevillente, Salt mines, the Maigmó of the Cid or Bernia. The summit of the province is the tip of Aitana, in the mountain range homónima, with 1,558 meters of altitude, which they follow the Puig Bell, with 1,406 meters, and the Montcabrer, in the mountain range of Mariola, with 1,389 meters. The level zones would correspond, mainly, to the south-Southeastern zone, where the low zones of two valleys come together, the one of Safe and the one of the Vinalopó, forming a zone of fertile valley and orchards.
Hydrography
The province of Alicante counts solely on a significant water obstacle, the Segura river that it has his last 36 km to the south of the province, in the region of the Low Fertile valley. The more important native river is the Vinalopó that crosses Elda and Elche. Other courses worthy to indicate are, of north to the south, the Serpis rivers, Girona, Gorgos, Algar, Amadorio, Monnegre and the Boulevard of the Ewes.
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