The Sierra Carbonera is a small range of mountains located in the
Province of Cádiz 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")
, i ...
, at the boundary between the municipalities of
San Roque and
La Línea de la Concepción
La Línea de la Concepción (, more often referred to as La Línea) is a municipality of Spain belonging to the province of Cádiz, Andalusia.
The city lies on the sandy isthmus which is part of the eastern flank of the Bay of Gibraltar, a ...
, north of the
Rock of Gibraltar. It rises to a maximum altitude of at the summit of Carboneras, which is occupied by a radio communications installation.
Description
The Sierra Carbonera is noted for its fine views over the region, stretching on a clear day as far as
Ceuta
Ceuta (, , ; ar, سَبْتَة, Sabtah) is a Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa.
Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of several Spanish territorie ...
and
Tetouan in
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...
on the far side of the
Strait of Gibraltar. A 16th century watchtower stood on its highest summit until 1967, when it was demolished. The watchtower was known locally as ''Sillón de la Reina'' (Queen's Chair), reflecting a legend that it was used by
Eleanor of Guzman
Eleanor () is a feminine given name, originally from an Old French adaptation of the Old Provençal name ''Aliénor''. It is the name of a number of women of royalty and nobility in western Europe during the High Middle Ages.
The name was introd ...
, the famous lover of King
Alfonso XI of Castile (who lived, however, 200 years before the tower was built).
The Sierra was originally covered with trees but these have been clear-cut, leaving the slopes denuded, due to large-scale logging for
charcoal production. The name ''Carbonera'' reflects this former industry.
References
External links
* {{Commons category-inline, Sierra Carbonera
Geography of the Province of Cádiz
Mountain ranges of Andalusia
Penibaetic System