Cantabrian Mountains
| Cantabrian Mountains | |
|---|---|
Torre de Cerredo | |
| Elevation | 2,648 m (8,688 ft) |
| Coordinates | 43°11′51″N 04°51′06″W / 43.19750°N 4.85167°W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 300 km (190 mi) WE |
| Width | 50 km (31 mi) NS |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Named after the Cantabri |
| Geography | |
 Location of the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain
| |
| Country | Spain |
| Communities | Asturias, Basque Country, Cantabria and Castile and León |
| Range coordinates | 43°N 5°W / 43°N 5°W |
| Borders on | Pyrenees and Galicia |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Carboniferous, Paleozoic, Mesozoic |
| Type of rock | Limestone |
The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range (Spanish: Cordillera Cantábrica) are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain. They stretch for over 300 km (180 miles) across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the Galician Massif in Galicia, along the coast of the Cantabrian Sea. Their easternmost end meets the Sistema Ibérico.
These mountains are a distinct physiographic province of the larger Alpine System physiographic division.
The Cantabrian Mountains offer a wide range of trails for hiking, as well as many challenging climbing routes. Skiing is possible in the ski resorts of Alto Campoo, Valgrande-Pajares, Fuentes de Invierno, San Isidro, Leitariegos and Manzaneda.
Geography
The Cantabrian Mountains stretch east-west, nearly parallel to the Cantabrian Sea, as far as the pass of Leitariegos, also extending south between
As a whole, the Cantabrian Mountains are remarkable for their intricate ramifications, but almost everywhere, and especially in the east, it is possible to distinguish two principal ranges, from which the lesser ridges and mountain masses radiate. One range, or series of ranges, closely follows the outline of the coast; the other, which is loftier, forms the northern limit of the great tableland of Castile and León, and is sometimes regarded as a continuation of the Pyrenees. In some parts the coastal range rises sheer above the sea, and everywhere has so abrupt a declivity that the streams which flow seaward are all short and swift.[1]
The descent from the southern range to the high plateaux of Castile is more gradual, and several large rivers, notably the
The Cantabrian Mountains make a sharp divide between "
Main ranges
The Cantabrian Range has three very distinct sections from west to east:[according to whom?]
Western
The
- Sierra de la Bobia, Pico de la Bobia 1,201 m
- Tineo
- Sierra de San Isidro, Campo de La Vaga 1,078 m
- Sierra de Eirelo, Pena dos Ladróis 800 m
- Sella River
- Sierra de Cuera, Pico Turbina 1,315 m, a northern foothill located at the eastern end of Asturias
- Narcea River
- Other ranges of the Asturian Massif are: Sierra del Aramo, Sierra de Pando, Sierra de Caniellas, Sierra de Rañadoiro, Loma de Parrondo, Sierra de San Mamés, Sierra de Serrantina, Sierra de la Zarza, Sierra de Degaña, Sierra del Acebo, Sierra de Sobia, Cordal de Lena, Sierra de Casomera, Porrones de Moneo, and Cordal de Ponga
Central
The main mountains of this zone are the massive Picos de Europa. They are composed of Carboniferous limestone and marl.[4] The Paramo de Masa and La Lora grasslands are located in the south crossed by the Rudrón Valley.[5]
- Sierra de Covadonga, west of the Picos de Europa
- Sierra de Dobros, north of the Picos de Europa
- The Picos de Europa are divided into three sectors or massifs:
- Cornión Massif in the west, Torre Santa 2,596 m
- Torrecerredo2,650 m
- Ándara Massif in the east, Morra de Lechugales 2,444 m
- Sierra de Liencres, a coastal range, another northern foothill
- Sierra Nedrina[6]
- Mountain ranges in Cantabria, located further east:
- Fuentes Carrionas Massif, Peña Prieta 2,536 m, close to the eastern end of the Picos de Europa
- Sierra Cocón above Tresviso
- Sierra del Escudo de Cabuérniga, a northern foothill of the system, located between the main ridges and the sea[7]
- Sierra de la Gándara, Peña Cabarga 537 m, a lower northern foothill located further east
- Montes de Ucieda
- Alto del Gueto
- Sierra de la Matanza
- Sierra de Peña Sagra, Peña Sagra 2,046 m
- Sierra de Peña Labra, Pico Tres Mares 2,175 m and Peña Labra 2,006 m
- Sierra del Cordel in the Saja and Nansa Comarca
- Luena
- Sierra de Híjar, foothills located in the high plateau at the southeastern end of the central zone
- Sierra del Hornijo, Mortillano 1,410
- Sierra de Breñas, foothill running perpendicular to the coast
- Montes de Pas, Castro Valnera 1,707 m in the transition area to the Basque Mountains
Eastern
The Basque Mountains at the eastern end of the system, with very eroded Mesozoic folds and ranges of moderate height:
- Inner ranges:
- Coastal ranges:
Flora and fauna
 |
The Cantabrian Mountains are home to an important variety of plant life, as well as the
Other animals associated with the range include the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) and the rebeco, or Cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva).
Woodland in the Cantabrian Mountains is generally predominated by beeches (Fagus sylvatica).
The Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica), one of the four subspecies of the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), which used to inhabit the Cantabrian Mountains, became extinct in 2000.
Protected areas
The Cantabrian mountain range includes several
- Picos de Europa National Park
- Muniellos Nature Reserve
- Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias Natural Park
- Redes Natural Park
- Somiedo Natural Park
- Protected Landscape Area of Sierra del Sueve
- Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina Natural Park
- Saja-Besaya Natural Park
- Collados del Asón Natural Park
- Ojo Guareña
References
- ^ a b Chisholm 1911, p. 207.
- ^ Chisholm 1911, pp. 207–208.
- ^ La Cordillera Cantábrica
- ^ Geología de Cantabria Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ J. Muñoz Jiménez, Geografía de Asturias. 1 . Geografía física. El relieve, el clima y las aguas. 1982.
- ^ Naturaleza en Asturias[permanent dead link]
- ^ Estudio de caudales ecológicos en la red hidrográfica de Cantabria Archived 2013-06-26 at the Wayback Machine
Sources
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cantabrian Mountains". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 207–208.
