The Valleys of the Saja and Nansa Rivers comprise an administrative ''

comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...

'' in

Cantabria Cantabria (, also , , Cantabrian: ) is an autonomous community in northern Spain with Santander as its capital city. It is called a ''comunidad histórica'', a historic community, in its current Statute of Autonomy. It is bordered on the east ...

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 ...

. It is formed by the valleys of said rivers, each one being a natural ''comarca'' of its own.

Saja valley

The valley of the

Saja River The Saja is a river in the autonomous community of Cantabria, northern Spain. It flows into the Cantabric sea. Part of its course is inside the Saja-Besaya Natural Park Saja-Besaya Natural Park is Cantabrias largest natural park on the north ...

, located in the

autonomous community eu, autonomia erkidegoa ca, comunitat autònoma gl, comunidade autónoma oc, comunautat autonòma an, comunidat autonoma ast, comunidá autónoma , alt_name = , map = , category = Autonomous administra ...

is formed by two natural ''comarcas''. *The mid-upper course, corresponding to the municipalities of '' Los Tojos'', Cabuérniga, Ruente and the ''

Mancomunidad Campoo-Cabuérniga In present-day Spain a ''mancomunidad'' ( an, mancomunidat, ast, mancomunidá, ca, mancomunitat, gl, mancomunidade, eu, mankomunitatea; in English "commonwealth" or municipal association) is an association of municipalities voluntarily estab ...

'', is called Cabuérniga Valley as a whole. It contains the rivers Argoza (which crosses the historic-artistic complex of

Bárcena Mayor Bárcena Mayor is a village nestled in the mountains of Cantabria, Spain in the municipality of Los Tojos, and is the only residential village within Saja Reservation within the Saja and Nansa valleys community. Overview The Argoza River cuts t ...

), Viaña, Lamiña and Bayones (which flows down the Uceda Mountains). *From ''Hoz de Santa Lucía'' to ''San Pedro de Rudagüera'' it is called Cabezón Valley, containing the municipalities of

Cabezón de la Sal Cabezón de la Sal 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 ...

, Mazcuerras and

Reocín Reocín is a municipality in Cantabria, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , nation ...

. Little past Rudagüera, in

Torrelavega Torrelavega ( Cantabrian: ''Torlavega'') is a municipality and important industrial and commercial hub in the single province Autonomous Community of Cantabria, northern Spain. It is situated roughly 8 kilometres from the Cantabrian Coast and 27.5 ...

, the Besaya River flows into the valley until it reaches its mouth in the Ria of San Martín near

Suances Suances is a municipality in Cantabria Province, Spain. :es:Anexo:Municipios de Cantabria Geography Suances is located in the central coast of Cantabria, in the Ría de San Martín de la Arena, where the rivers Saja and Besaya flow to the Cant ...

, flowing into the

Bay of Biscay The Bay of Biscay (), known in Spain as the Gulf of Biscay ( es, Golfo de Vizcaya, eu, Bizkaiko Golkoa), and in France and some border regions as the Gulf of Gascony (french: Golfe de Gascogne, oc, Golf de Gasconha, br, Pleg-mor Gwaskogn), ...

This valleys share the varied relief of the

Cantabrian Mountains , 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, th ...

. In the upper course can be found the Cordel mountains, the mountain ranges of Bárcena Mayor, the mounts of Cabuérniga and Ucieda and the '' Sierra del Escudo de Cabuérniga'' where the ''Hoz of Santa Lucía'' is formed. After that, the geography smooths, with larger lowlands, bordered by the Ibio Ranges and the small pre-coastal hills.

Nansa valley

Valley and natural ''comarca'' of

; located between the valleys of

Liébana Liébana is a ''comarca'' of Cantabria (Spain). It covers 575 square kilometres and is located in the far southwest of Cantabria, bordering Asturias, León and Palencia. It is made up of the municipalities of: Cabezón de Liébana, Camaleño, Cil ...

and Saja. It is bordered by the Escudo Range on the north and the Peña Labra Range on the south. Through the Nansa valley flows the river of the same name, which forms remarkably steep slopes at its sides, due to its torrential and eroding nature, chiefly at the first part of its course. The municipalities comprehended by the Nansa valley are: Lamasón, Rionansa,

Tudanca Tudanca is a municipality in Cantabria, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , natio ...

Polaciones Polaciones 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'', a hi ...

and the part of Cabuérniga corresponding to the village of Carmona. The ''comarca'' has a great landscape quality, thanks to its high peaks characteristics, large native forests (mostly oaks and

beeches Beech (''Fagus'') is a genus of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and North America. Recent classifications recognize 10 to 13 species in two distinct subgenera, ''Engleriana'' and ''Fagus''. The ''Engle ...

), and low population density, mostly dedicated to cattle farming.

External links

''El Soplao'' cave
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saja And Nansa Valleys

Saja-Nansa The Valleys of the Saja and Nansa Rivers comprise an administrative ''comarca'' in Cantabria, Spain. It is formed by the valleys of said rivers, each one being a natural ''comarca'' of its own. Saja valley The valley of the Saja River, located ...

Green Spain