Peñalara is the highest mountain peak in the mountain range of Guadarrama, a subsection of

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 ...

's larger

Sistema Central The Central System, Spanish and pt, Sistema Central, is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula. The 2,592 m high Pico Almanzor is its highest summit. The Central System is located just north of the 40th parallel a ...

mountain chain which lies at the center and divides the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, def ...

. Straddling the provinces of

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...

and

Segovia Segovia ( , , ) is a city in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia. Segovia is in the Inner Plateau ('' Meseta central''), near the northern slopes of t ...

, Peñalara reaches a height of 2,428 metres above sea level. Consequently, it is one of the most emblematic and important peaks of the Guadarramas. The eastern section of the mountain lies in the municipality of Rascafría in the province of Madrid, belonging to the ''Valle of Lozoya (river), Lozoya'', and its western section is located in the ''Valle of Valsaín'' in the province of Segovia. The peak's summit is a designated natural park (Spain), natural park known as the ''Peñalara Natural Park, Parque Natural de Peñalara'', which features several small lakes and some steep escarpments. The outline of Peñalara is rounded, displaying few underhangs. The hillsides of this mountain are covered with different types of vegetation, depending on the elevation. Largely undisturbed oak, oak tree groves are found at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,300 metres. From 1,100 metres to 2,000 metres, the slopes are dominated by wild pine forests. From 2,000 metres up to the summit, the vegetation consists of more sparsely distributed, low-lying bushes particular to high elevations. The animal habitation of the mountain is made up of small mammals, a large variety of insects and various bird species such as eagles and vultures. Panorámica Parque Natural de Peñalara

References

* :es:Peñalara, Peñalara. From the Spanish-language Wikipedia. Retrieved May 6, 2006. * :es:Parque Natural de Peñalara, Parque Natural de Peñalara. From the Spanish-language Wikipedia. Retrieved May 6, 2006.

External links

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Parque Natural de Peñalara
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Mountains of Castile and León Sierra de Guadarrama {{Segovia-geo-stub

See also

References

External links