La Cantabrian mountain range It is a mountainous system located in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula, parallel to the Cantabrian Sea. Located in Spain, it is about 480 kilometers long and 100 kilometers wide with sections that thicken to 120 kilometers and no more than 65 kilometers in others. It is the westernmost mountain range in Europe. It has characteristics and curiosities that make it unique.
Therefore, in this article we are going to tell you what the Origin, characteristics and importance of the Cantabrian Mountains.
Key features
It begins in the Galaico-Leonés massif, crosses the Picos de Europa and reaches the Basque Depression. Geologically, however, the Asturian-Leonese massif to the west of the mountains and the narrower mountains that stretch from the European peaks to the foothills are considered part of the Pyrenees. This is an area where the folds They are stronger than the Asturian central massif, and the folds smooth out as you go east, because the thrust during the Alpine orogeny came from the east. That is, this ancient mountain system was created from west to east.
For this reason, the Cantabrian Mountains of Galicia and the mountains of Asturias and León to the west acquire a circular shape and, as we move towards the east, the peaks acquire a more alpine character. Erosion of the western flank has occurred over millions of years compared to the eastern flank, it is still made up of seafloor sediments that exist between the Iberian and European plates.
This mountain range presents topographical differences. While on its southern slopes and plateaus there are hardly any unevennesses and less erosion, on the northern slopes the slope is more pronounced due to its proximity to the sea, which means that the river has a rapid character with strong erosive power, and on slopes steep. It preserves slopes embedded in V-shaped valleys. Consequently, these structures are more susceptible to erosion to the north than to the south. In the most rugged areas of Asturias, Cantabria, León and Palencia, its peaks exceed 2.000 meters above sea level. In addition, this mountain system is part of the mountain ranges of Spain.
Climate of the Cantabrian Mountains
The prevailing winds from the ocean collide with the mountains, rising and condensing due to cooling. The northern slopes of the Cantabrian slope have abundant rainfall of up to 2.000 mm per year due to the barrier effect; in the Peaks there are places with up to 2.500 mm, which are already dry when the winds descend to the southern slopes, resulting in a drier climate.
This effect was reversed and amplified by the south-westerly winds, which penetrated the center and north of Portugal, producing abundant rains in the south-west of the mountains and unusually warm temperatures on the Cantabrian coast. On the southern slopes, they are harsh in winter, and low temperatures of -20 °C are not uncommon in the mountains. These climatic phenomena have been studied in other places, such as in the places in Spain where it rains the most.
Origin of the Cantabrian Mountains
Its final form occurred largely during the Alpine orogeny, modeled on paleozoic and mesozoic sedimentary material. These materials, regardless of their hardness, are highly folded, forming a huge mantle of thrust. These materials are actually sedimentary, interspersed with clasts and carbonates throughout the mountains, with clastic material mainly in the west and more carbonates appearing in the east, mainly in the Picos de Europa area.
Therefore, the western mountains are "older" than those in the east. The mountain system is dotted with extensive ancient glacial and karst landforms. To explore these aspects further, you can consult resources at natural parks of Spain.
Flora
The Cantabrian mountains are dominated by flat deciduous forests, composed mainly of beech trees in the shade and oaks in the sunny areas. A distinction must be made between oaks, which prefer deep, moist soils and do not tend to climb too far, so they are mainly found on northern slopes; Q. petraea, which is less demanding on soils at higher altitudes and prefers more aerated soils; Q. pyrenaica, which is present in more continental climates and is more tolerant of drought; and an undetermined number of crosses between them.
The Cantabrian mixed forest is a mixture of different tree species, predominantly common oak, ash, maple, birch, lime, chestnut and a large number of tall shrubs such as hazel, hawthorn, dogwood or laurel. These elements make the Cantabrian flora a diverse and unique ecosystem that deserves attention. Therefore, it is important to understand how they relate to other areas, especially when considering climate change and the big time change that is expected.
Fauna of the Cantabrian Mountains
Among the various animal species that inhabit the area, the Cantabrian brown bear stands out, with more than 300 specimens. This is especially intriguing given that current numbers justify a recovery of the species in the region given the alarming population declines found decades ago.
We find animals like the antelope of the Pyrenees, deer, roe deer, wild boar, Iberian wolf, otter, mink, badger, crested porcupine, Iberian desman, capercaillie and griffon vulture. The ibex has been reintroduced into the Cantabrian Mountains from captive nuclei in Riaño, with several nuclei present in the Los Ancares National Hunting Reserve (Lugo) and Montaña de Riaño and Mampodre Castilla y León in the Sierra de Ancares and in Asturias and Liébana observe scattered individuals. It is estimated that in the medium term it will recolonize the entire mountain range. The highest mountain in this range is Torre Cerredo, the Pinnacle of Europe, at 2650 meters above sea level, and the deepest cave is the Trave cave system, the second largest canyon in Spain. To learn more about the natural phenomena that affect these species, it is recommended to follow the information on the storms that could reach Spain.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Cantabrian Mountains and its characteristics.