The Sierra de Híjar is a mountain range of the
Cantabrian Mountains
The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range () are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.
They stretch for over 300 km (180 miles) across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the Galician Massif ...
System, located in the
Province of Palencia
Palencia is a Provinces of Spain, province of northern Spain, in the northern part of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile-Leon, Castile and León in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. It is bordered by the provi ...
and the
Autonomous Community of Cantabria in northern
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
.
Geography
The range is long, and runs in a west-northwest to east-southeast direction. The highest peaks in the range are concentrated in the northeastern to central section. From there the altitude declines. The rangehas a maximum width of , between Penaguda and Sel de la Fuente.
The range's highest point is at the peak of Cuchillón, although its exact altitude differs by source, including: according to the
National Geographic Institute of Spain (Instituto Geográfico Nacional); and according to Francisco Hernández-Pacheco and in other publications by the same National Geographic Institute.
This system marks the boundary between the regions of
Campoo
Campoo (formally Campoo-Los Valles) is a ''comarca'' (district) of Cantabria (Spain) located in the High Ebro. With an area of slightly more than 1,000 km2, it includes the municipalities of Hermandad de Campoo de Suso, Campoo de Enmedio, ...
in
Cantabria
Cantabria (, ; ) is an autonomous community and Provinces of Spain, province in northern Spain with Santander, Cantabria, Santander as its capital city. It is called a , a Nationalities and regions of Spain, historic community, in its current ...
and
La Pernia in
Palencia
Palencia () is a city of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the province of Palencia.
Located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, in the northern half of ...
of
Castile and León
Castile and León is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwestern Spain. Castile and León is the largest autonomous community in Spain by area, covering 94,222 km2. It is, however, sparsely populated, with a pop ...
. It is one of the southernmost foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains range, and the last to rise over in elevation.
Main peaks
The highest points are concentrated in the central sector, including Tres Mares and Cueto Manin. The northwestern sector contains the long spine of Peña Labra and an access point to the summit from
Polaciones
Polaciones is a municipality located in the autonomous community of Cantabria
Cantabria (, ; ) is an autonomous community and Provinces of Spain, province in northern Spain with Santander, Cantabria, Santander as its capital city. It is call ...
. The southeastern sector, extending from Sestil to Alto de Hoyos, is the lowest and is called the ''Cinto Brotherhood''.
Pico Tresmares.jpg, Tres Mares is one of the more famous peaks in the range
Peña Labra desde Piedrasluengas.jpg, Peña Labra
Peña Labra is a high mountain located in the Sierra de Híjar range, a part of the Cantabrian Mountains System,. It is located on the boundary between the Province of Palencia and the Autonomous Community of Cantabria.
It is the westernmost ...
, one of the prominent peaks of the range
Vallecampoo.JPG, Sierra de Híjar (right) from Reinosa
Reinosa is a municipality in Cantabria, Spain. , it has 10,307 inhabitants. The municipality, one of the smallest by land area in Cantabria, is notable for being one of the nearest towns to the headwaters of the Ebro River. It is surrounded by th ...
Sestil.jpg, Cows on brañas of Sestil
Toponymy
According to cartographic studies by the
National Geographic Institute of Spain and other works, the name "Peña Labra" is often used to refer to this system, especially as seen from the south side.
From this perspective, the top of Peña Labra appears most prominently, though it is not the highest in the system. However, all previously existing mapping, including the first series of the National Geographic Institute, or those of Francisco Coello and Quesada and Pascual Madoz, refers to this mountain as "Sierra de Híjar."
See also
*
Rubagón
The Rubagón is a river that runs entirely through the province of Palencia, in the eastern part of the Montaña Palentina, in Spain.
Route
The Rubagón rises in the Sierra de Híjar, between the peaks of El Cueto and Valdecebollas, and flows ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sierra de Hijar
Hijar
Mountain ranges of Cantabria
Geography of the Province of Palencia