Mountains Of Galicia (Spain)
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The geography of Galicia (
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") , i ...
) is characterized by the contrast between the low altitude coastal relief and, further inland, by the higher altitude of the
Galician Massif The Galician Massif ( es, Macizo Galaico, also known as ''Macizo Galaico-Leonés'') is a system of mountain ranges in the northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located in Galicia with its southeastern end reaching into the provinces ...
which itself offers contrasts between the morphology of the high northern plains and the southern mountains and valleys.


Limits

The territory of Galicia is between 43°47′ N ( Estaca de Bares) and 41°49′ N ( Portela do Home, border with
Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
) in latitude. In longitude, the territory lies between 6º42′ W and 9º18′ W.


Coast

The Galician coast has and has many incoming and outgoing and small islands, and in general is steep declines or little soft. Alternate locations with different characteristics, as in the Rías Baixas' Corrubedo or the Cantabrian Mariña de Lugo. The first features a coastal dune in a low profile, and the second a high geological deposition zone on its original level. Most of the population lives along the Atlantic
estuaries An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environment ...
in the major urban centers and their areas of influence. The estuaries are important fisheries, helping the Galician coast be one of the most important fishing areas in the world . They also attract many tourists to the magnificent views and beaches.


Capes

Galician most known capes are: * Estaca de Bares, which is the northern point in Galicia, and the border between
Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
and Cantabrian Sea. *
Cape Ortegal Ortegal is a ''comarca'' in the north of the Galician Province of A Coruña, Spain. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea to the north, the Province of Lugo to the east, the comarca of O Eume O Eume is a comarca in the province o ...
, between Ortiguiera and Teixido's cliffs. * Cape Prior. * Santo Adrao Point, close to Malpica. *
Cape Vilan Cape Vilan ( gl, Cabo Vilán) is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain, located in Costa da Morte ("Coast of Death"), specifically close the village of Camariñas. The place was declared of National Interest in 1933 and tod ...
. *
Cape Touriñan A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck. History Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. The ...
, the most occidental point of Galicia. *
Cape Finisterre Cape Finisterre (, also ; gl, Cabo Fisterra, italic=no ; es, Cabo Finisterre, italic=no ) is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain. In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world. The name Finisterre, like ...
, known by the Romans as the end of the world point.


Islands

Galicia's coast is surrounded by islands such as:
Cíes Islands The Cíes Islands ( gl, Illas Cíes, link=no; es, Islas Cíes, link=no) are an archipelago off the coast of Pontevedra in Galicia, Spain, in the mouth of the Ria de Vigo. They were declared a Nature Reserve in 1980 and are included in the Atla ...
(consisting of the
island of Faro An island or isle is a piece of subcontinental land completely surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island in a river or a lake island may be calle ...
,
Monteagudo Monteagudo is the name of: * Monteagudo, Bolivia, a town in Bolivia * Monteagudo, Navarre, a town and municipality located in the province of Navarre, Spain * Monteagudo del Castillo, a town and municipality in the province of Teruel, Spain * Monte ...
and the
San Martiño San Martiño (''Saint Martin'') is a small island off the north coast of Galician, Spain, at the mouth of the Sor river and the beginning of ''Ría'' (estuary) of O Barqueiro. It is formed from a meander of the Sor river. The island belongs to ...
), the islands of Ons (consisting of the
island of Ons and Onza An island or isle is a piece of subcontinental land completely surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island in a river or a lake island may be calle ...
), the
archipelago Sálvora An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Archipe ...
(comprises the islands of
Sálvora Sálvora Island ( gl, Illa de Sálvora ; es, Isla de Sálvora ) is a small island located on the Ría de Arousa, coast of Galicia, Spain. It belongs to the municipality of Santa Uxía de Ribeira and is integrated in the Atlantic Islands of Galic ...
, Vionta and Sagres) and other islands as
Cortegada Cortegada is a municipality in the Ourense, Galicia, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyon ...
, Arousa, the Sisargas, or Malveiras, most of which belong to the National Park of the Atlantic Islands. There are also many smaller islands and
islets An islet is a very small, often unnamed island. Most definitions are not precise, but some suggest that an islet has little or no vegetation and cannot support human habitation. It may be made of rock, sand and/or hard coral; may be permanent ...
. It is estimated that on the coast of Galicia there are 316 islands, islets and rocks.Faro de Vigo.es. ''La Xunta elabora un inventario de islas para su posible compra''
. 21-1-2009. ( In Spanish)


Mountains

The main mountain ranges of the Galician Massif are
Serra do Eixe Serra (Latin for "saw") may refer to: People * Serra (footballer) (born 1961), Portuguese footballer * Serra (surname) * Serra (given name) Cities, towns, municipalities Brazil *Serra, Espírito Santo, a city in the Greater Vitória area *Ampa ...
,
Serra da Lastra Serra (Latin for "saw") may refer to: People * Serra (footballer) (born 1961), Portuguese footballer * Serra (surname) * Serra (given name) Cities, towns, municipalities Brazil *Serra, Espírito Santo, a city in the Greater Vitória area *Ampa ...
and
Serra do Courel Serra (Latin for "saw") may refer to: People * Serra (footballer) (born 1961), Portuguese footballer * Serra (surname) * Serra (given name) Cities, towns, municipalities Brazil *Serra, Espírito Santo, a city in the Greater Vitória area *Ampa ...
, located in the eastern parts, bordering with
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 the ...
. Noteworthy mountain ranges are
O Xistral O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
(northern
Lugo Lugo (, ; la, Lucus Augusti) is a city in northwestern Spain in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia. It is the capital of the Lugo (province), province of Lugo. The municipality had a population ...
), the
Serra dos Ancares The Serra dos Ancares (Spanish: ''Sierra de los Ancares'', also known as ''Sierra de Ancares'') is a mountain range of the Galician Massif in north-west Spain, extending in a south-westerly direction from the western end of the Cantabrian Mountains ...
(on the border with León and Asturias),
O Courel O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
(on the border with León),
O Eixe O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
(the border between
Ourense Ourense (; es, Orense ) is a city and capital of the province of Ourense, located in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is on the Camino Sanabrés path of the Way of St ...
and Zamora), Serra de Queixa (in the center of Ourense province),
O Faro O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
(the border between Lugo and Pontevedra),
Cova da Serpe Cova or COVA may refer to: Places and jurisdictions Algeria * Cova, North Africa, the Ancient Roman city and modern Catholic titular see located at modern Ziama Mansouriah Cape Verde * Cova Figueira, a small city in the island of Fogo * Cov ...
(border of Lugo and
A Coruña A Coruña (; es, La Coruña ; historical English: Corunna or The Groyne) is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. A Coruña is the most populated city in Galicia and the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and s ...
), Montemaior (A Coruña),
Montes do Testeiro Mons (; German and nl, Bergen, ; Walloon and pcd, Mont) is a city and municipality of Wallonia, and the capital of the province of Hainaut, Belgium. Mons was made into a fortified city by Count Baldwin IV of Hainaut in the 12th century. T ...
,
Serra do Suído Serra (Latin for "saw") may refer to: People * Serra (footballer) (born 1961), Portuguese footballer * Serra (surname) * Serra (given name) Cities, towns, municipalities Brazil *Serra, Espírito Santo, a city in the Greater Vitória area *Ampar ...
, and
Faro de Avión Faro may refer to: Places Africa * Faro (department), North Province, Cameroon * Faro National Park, Cameroon Americas * Faro, Pará, Brazil, a municipality * Faro, Yukon, Canada, a town ** Faro (electoral district) ** Faro Airport (Yukon) ** ...
(between Pontevedra and Ourense); and, to the south,
A Peneda A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
,
O Xurés O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
and
O Larouco O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), plu ...
, all on the border of Ourense and Portugal.


References

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