, etymology=Named after the
Cantabri
, photo=Cordillera Cantábrica vista desde el Castro Valnera.jpg
, photo_caption=Cantabrian Mountains parallel to the
Cantabrian Sea seen from
Castro Valnera in an east-west direction. In the background, the
Montaña Palentina (left) and the
Picos de Europa (right)
, country=
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
, subdivision1_type=
Communities
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, to ...
, subdivision1=
, geology= Limestone
, age=
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous ( ) is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic that spans 60 million years from the end of the Devonian Period million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Permian Period, million years ago. The name ''Carboniferou ...
,
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic (or Palaeozoic) Era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic Eon.
The name ''Paleozoic'' ( ;) was coined by the British geologist Adam Sedgwick in 1838
by combining the Greek words ''palaiós'' (, "old") and ...
,
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic Era ( ), also called the Age of Reptiles, the Age of Conifers, and colloquially as the Age of the Dinosaurs is the second-to-last era of Earth's geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretace ...
, orogeny=
, borders_on=
, area_km2=
, length_km=300
, length_orientation=WE
, width_km= 50
, width_orientation=NS
, highest=
Torre de Cerredo
Torre Cerredo, also called Torrecerredo or Torre de Cerredo ( Asturian: ''La Torre Cerréu''), is the highest peak of the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain.
With a prominence of 1,931 m, it is an ultra-prominent peak and the third most promine ...
, elevation_m= 2648
, range_coordinates=
, coordinates=
, map_image=Cordillera Cantabrica.jpg
, map_caption=Location of the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain
, parent=
The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range ( es, Cordillera Cantábrica) are one of the main systems of
mountain range
A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have ari ...
s in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
.
They stretch for over 300 km (180 miles) across northern Spain, from the western limit of the
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to ...
to the
Galician Massif in
Galicia
Galicia may refer to:
Geographic regions
* Galicia (Spain), a region and autonomous community of northwestern Spain
** Gallaecia, a Roman province
** The post-Roman Kingdom of the Suebi, also called the Kingdom of Gallaecia
** The medieval King ...
, 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
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
, as well as many challenging
climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or any other part of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders), to small boulders. Climbing is done ...
routes.
Skiing
Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee ( ...
is possible in the
ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area – a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In Nort ...
s of
Alto Campoo
Alto Campoo is a ski resort in the Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain. The resort is located in the Cantabrian comarca of Campoo.
The source of the river Ebro is near the resort in the town of Fontibre.
Resort
With of marked pistes, it i ...
, 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
León and Galicia. The range's western boundary is marked by the valley of the river
Minho ( es, Miño), by the lower
Sil, which flows into the Miño, and by the
Cabrera River, a small tributary of the Sil. The Cantabrian Mountains reach their south-western limit in Portugal.
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
Castile and León ( es, Castilla y León ; ast-leo, Castiella y Llión ; gl, Castela e León ) is an autonomous community in northwestern Spain.
It was created in 1983, eight years after the end of the Francoist regime, by the merging of th ...
, 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.
The descent from the southern range to the high plateaux of Castile is more gradual, and several large rivers, notably the
Ebro
, name_etymology =
, image = Zaragoza shel.JPG
, image_size =
, image_caption = The Ebro River in Zaragoza
, map = SpainEbroBasin.png
, map_size =
, map_caption = The Ebro ...
, rise here and flow to the south or west. The breadth of the Cantabrian chain, with all its ramifications, increases from about 60 mi (97 km); in the east to about in the west. Many peaks are over high, but the greatest
altitudes are attained in the central ridges on the borders of
León,
Asturias
Asturias (, ; ast, Asturies ), officially the Principality of Asturias ( es, Principado de Asturias; ast, Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: ''Principao d'Asturias''), is an autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensiv ...
,
Palencia and
Cantabria. Here are the highest peak
Torre de Cerredo
Torre Cerredo, also called Torrecerredo or Torre de Cerredo ( Asturian: ''La Torre Cerréu''), is the highest peak of the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain.
With a prominence of 1,931 m, it is an ultra-prominent peak and the third most promine ...
(),
Peña Vieja (),
Peña Prieta () and
Espigüete (); an unnamed summit in the
Picos de Europa, to which range the Peña Vieja also belongs, rises on the right bank of the
Sella to a height of ; further west the peaks of
Manpodres,
Peña Ubiña,
Peña Rubia and
Cuiña all exceed . A conspicuous feature of the chain, as of the adjacent tableland, is the number of its parameras, isolated
plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ...
s shut in by lofty mountains or even by precipitous walls of rock.
The Cantabrian Mountains make a sharp divide between "
Green Spain" to the north, and the dry
central plateau. The north facing slopes receive heavy
cyclonic rainfall from the Cantabrian Sea, whereas the southern slopes are in
rain shadow
A rain shadow is an area of significantly reduced rainfall behind a mountainous region, on the side facing away from prevailing winds, known as its leeward side.
Evaporated moisture from water bodies (such as oceans and large lakes) is ca ...
.
Main ranges
The Cantabrian Range has three very distinct sections from west to east:
Western
The
Asturian Massif and its foothills. Geologically it is an eastern prolongation of the
Galician Massif with
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic (or Palaeozoic) Era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic Eon.
The name ''Paleozoic'' ( ;) was coined by the British geologist Adam Sedgwick in 1838
by combining the Greek words ''palaiós'' (, "old") and ...
folds. It is cut by deep east-west oriented
canyon
A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tendency to cu ...
s such as the
Cares River valley. Highest point
Torre de Cerredo
Torre Cerredo, also called Torrecerredo or Torre de Cerredo ( Asturian: ''La Torre Cerréu''), is the highest peak of the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain.
With a prominence of 1,931 m, it is an ultra-prominent peak and the third most promine ...
2,648 m.
*
Sierra de la Bobia,
Pico de la Bobia 1,201 m
*
Sierra de Tineo,
Mulleiroso 1,241 m, a northern foothill located near
Tineo
*
Sierra de San Isidro,
Campo de La Vaga 1,078 m
*
Sierra de Eirelo,
Pena dos Ladróis 800 m
*
Sierra del Sueve,
Picu Pienzu 1,161 m, a northern foothill west of the
Sella River
The Sella is a river located in northwest Spain. It flows through the region of Asturias from the Picos de Europa to the Bay of Biscay of the Atlantic Ocean at Ribadesella.
It hosts an annual canoe competition called the International Descen ...
*
Sierra de Cuera,
Pico Turbina 1,315 m, anorthern foothill located at the eastern end of Asturias
*
Sierra de Quintanal, running transversally on the eastern side of the
Narcea River
*Other ranges of the Asturian Massif are:
Sierra del Aramo
Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" and "saw", from Latin '' serra'') may refer to the following:
Places Mountains and mountain ranges
* Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico
* Sierra de las Nieves, a mountain range i ...
,
Sierra de Pando,
Sierra de Caniellas,
Sierra de Rañadoiro,
Loma de Parrondo,
Sierra de San Mamés
Sierra (Spanish for " mountain range" and "saw", from Latin '' serra'') may refer to the following:
Places Mountains and mountain ranges
* Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico
* Sierra de las Nieves, a mountain range ...
,
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
The Carboniferous ( ) is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic that spans 60 million years from the end of the Devonian Period million years ago ( Mya), to the beginning of the Permian Period, million years ago. The name ''Carboniferou ...
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms w ...
and
marl
Marl is an earthy material rich in carbonate minerals, clays, and silt. When hardened into rock, this becomes marlstone. It is formed in marine or freshwater environments, often through the activities of algae.
Marl makes up the lower part ...
. The
Paramo de Masa and
La Lora grasslands are located in the south crossed by the
Rudrón Valley
The Rudrón Valley () is a valley of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León, Spain, that borders the autonomous community of Cantabria
Cantabria (, also , , Cantabrian: ) is an autonomous community in nort ...
.
*
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
**
Urrieles Massif
The Urrieles Massif or the Central Massif is a mountainous massif in the north of Spain, one of the three massifs that make up the Picos de Europa, and in turn, one of the stretches of the Cantabrian Massif belonging to the Cantabrian Range. The o ...
in the center,
Torrecerredo 2,650 m
**
Ándara Massif in the east,
Morra de Lechugales 2,444 m
**
Sierra de Liencres, a coastal range, another northern foothill
**
Sierra Nedrina
*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
Estudio de caudales ecológicos en la red hidrográfica de Cantabria
** 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
** Sierra del Escudo, between Campoo de Yuso
Campoo de Yuso is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria
Cantabria (, also , , Cantabrian: ) is an autonomous community in northern Spain with Santander as its capital city. It is called a ''comunidad histórica'', ...
and Luena
** Sierra de Híjar, foothills located in the high plateau at the southeastern end of the central zone
*** Valdecebollas
** 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
The Mesozoic Era ( ), also called the Age of Reptiles, the Age of Conifers, and colloquially as the Age of the Dinosaurs is the second-to-last era of Earth's geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretace ...
folds and ranges of moderate height:
*Inner ranges:
** Sierra Salbada ('' Orduña'')
**Mounts of Gasteiz, Kapildui 1,177 m
**Izki
Izki ( ar, إِزْكِي) is a town in the region Ad Dakhiliyah, northeastern Oman. It is located at c. altitude, and has a population of 35,173 (2003 census).
Geography
Izki lies at the end of a route from Muscat to Nizwa. The rou ...
**Urbasa
The Urbasa Range (''Urbasa mendilerroa'' in Basque and ''Sierra de Urbasa'' in Spanish) is a mountain range of western Navarre, Spain, part of the Basque Mountains. Its highest point is the 1,183-metre-high Baiza.
Urbasa is a karstic range whe ...
, Baiza 1,183 m
** Andía, with the impressive Beriain
Beriain (also ''San Donato'' after the chapel at the top) is a 1,493 metres high peak part of the Basque Mountains range, located in the Andia range of western Navarre, Spain. Its sharp profile is an iconic image in the ''Burunda'' and ''Barran ...
1,493 m
*Coastal ranges:
** Gorbea (''Gorbeia'') 1,481 m
** Urkiola, Anboto 1,331 m
** Elgea
** Aizkorri, Aitxuri 1,551 m, highest peak in the Basque Mountains
** Altzania, Aratz 1,442 m
** Aralar, Txindoki
Txindoki or Larrunarri is an iconic mountain (1,346 m) located in the region of Goierri, Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. Originally Larrunarri or Ñañarri (), the mount took on the popularized name Txindoki by extension aft ...
1,346 m
**Other important mountains close to the sea include Ganekogorta
Ganekogorta or Belaute is a mountain in the border of the provinces of Biscay and Álava in the Basque Country, Spain. It is located roughly halfway between Bilbao and Llodio. It is the main peak of a massif that comprises some smaller mountains ...
, Oiz, Sollube, Arrate, Kalamua and Hernio
Hernio (; also spelled ''Ernio'') is an iconic summit in the Basque Country very popular with the Gipuzkoans and located right at the heart of the province. The peak is the highest point of a massif extending north-west to south-east, the summit ...
Flora and fauna
The Cantabrian Mountains are home to an important variety of plant life, as well as the Cantabrian brown bear
The Cantabrian brown bear, Iberian brown bear, or Iberian bear (scientifically ''Ursus arctos pyrenaicus'') is a population of Eurasian brown bears (''Ursus arctos arctos'') living in the Cantabrian Mountains of Spain. On average, females weigh , ...
(''Ursus arctos pyrenaicus''), catalogued as being in danger of extinction, which extends from Asturias
Asturias (, ; ast, Asturies ), officially the Principality of Asturias ( es, Principado de Asturias; ast, Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: ''Principao d'Asturias''), is an autonomous community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensiv ...
(the region where its population is bigger) to areas in Léon, Palencia and Cantabria, and the Cantabrian capercaillie (''T. urogallus cantabricus'').
Other animals associated with the range include the Iberian wolf (''Canis lupus signatus'') and the ''rebeco'', or Cantabrian chamois
The Cantabrian chamois (''Rupicapra pyrenaica parva'') is a slim mountain goat-antelope, and is one of the 10 subspecies of the genus '' Rupicapra''. It ranges the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain, with a population of 17,000 animals in 2007 ...
(''Rupicapra pyrenaica parva'').
Woodland in the Cantabrian Mountains is generally predominated by beeches (''Fagus sylvatica'').
Protected areas
The Cantabrian mountain range includes several protected areas such as the Picos de Europa National Park, which is one of several Cantabrian parks included in UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
's World Network of Biosphere Reserves
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) covers internationally designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves
Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an intergovernmental scientific program, launched in 1971 by UNESCO ...
. Some of the sites are included in the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are located primarily in Europe, Europe. The union has a total area of ...
's Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respecti ...
network and Special Protection Areas
A Special Protection Area (SPA) is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and cer ...
for the Conservation of Wild Birds.
*Picos de Europa National Park
The Picos de Europa National Park ( es, Parque Nacional de Picos de Europa) is a National Park in the Picos de Europa mountain range, in northern Spain. It is within the boundaries of three autonomous communities, Asturias, Cantabria and Casti ...
* Muniellos Nature Reserve
* Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias Natural Park
*Redes Natural Park
The Redes Natural Park (Spanish language, Spanish: Parque Natural de Redes) is located in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Its total area is , split between two municipalities: Caso, Asturias, Caso () and Sobrescobio (). It was de ...
*Somiedo Natural Park
Somiedo Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Natural de Somiedo) is a protected area located in the central area of the Cantabrian Mountains in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. As well as being designated a natural park, it is protecte ...
* Protected Landscape Area of Sierra del Sueve
* Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina Natural Park
*Saja-Besaya Natural Park
Saja-Besaya Natural Park is Cantabrias largest natural park on the northern slope of the Cantabrian Mountains in West Central Cantabria, Spain. Its hunting reserve is approximately 1800km², the largest and most important in Spain.
Geography
T ...
* Collados del Asón Natural Park
* Ojo Guareña
References
Sources
*
External links
*
iberianature.com - English-language web site on nature in Spain and Portugal
Parque Natural de Las Ubiñas-La Mesa - Reserva de la Biosfera (I)
{{Authority control
Mountain ranges of the Basque Country (autonomous community)
Mountain ranges of Castile and León
Mountain ranges of Cantabria
Mountain ranges of Asturias
Mountain ranges of Europe