Spain is a state with sharp contrasts both in relief and in climatic conditions and in landscape. This is its uniqueness.
The Iberian Peninsula is part of the Eurasian continent, where the magnificent Kingdom of Spain is located. This is an amazingly beautiful country with a pleasant warm climate, rich in history and terrain that varies throughout the territory. This earth corner cannot leave any traveler indifferent. Especially beautiful mountains in Spain. We will dwell on them in more detail in this article.
The peninsula is located at the junction of Africa and Europe, the vast Mediterranean and the vast waters of the Atlantic Ocean. All this left its indelible mark and created the current peculiar appearance of Spain.
Landscape feature
Before we find out the name of the mountains of Spain, we first provide general information about the natural features of these places.
This is a territory of beautiful sandy beaches of the Mediterranean coastal area and evergreen meadows of the Atlantic coast. Also, these are vast areas of snow-capped peaks of a mountain range called Sierra Nevada, the impregnable Pyrenees and the fertile plains of Andalusia. In all this - in the diversity of natural landscapes - lies the originality, originality and beauty of this wonderful land.
The mountains
In Spain, the average height of the relief surface ranges from 660 meters. This is one of the most mountainous areas in Europe (not counting Switzerland), since on a larger area (90%) there is a system of high plateaus and mountain ranges.
The largest plateau in Europe called Meseta occupies half the territory of Spain.
The largest in area is the Iberian Mountains (more than 40, 000 sq. M.).
The central Cordilleras are the longest (700 km), followed by the Cordillera Betica and the Cantabrian Mountains (600 km each).
The highest ridge (the highest mountain in Spain), located in the Cordillera-Betica system, is the Sierra Nevada with the largest peak Mulasen, towering 3, 478 meters.
Pyrenees are the most inaccessible mountains.
Below we dwell in more detail on the peculiarities of the peculiar relief of Spain.
Meset Highlands
Meseta is the oldest residual Hercynian Highlands, occupying the western and central parts of the peninsula. It is inclined to the south-west with a gradual decline to the ocean. The western part is represented by many river avalanches and tectonic faults, in the east the surface is more even.
The plateau is literally flanked by mountains on all sides, except the western one, and at its feet there are also higher, flat surfaces (at an altitude of up to 1100 meters).
Central Cordillera
The mountains in Spain are special. The Central Cordillera mountain system divides Meseta into northern and southern parts. Northern Meseta is Old Castile (historical area), South - New Castile (core of the Spanish state).
The main ranges of the Central Cordillera: Sierra de Guadarrama, de Gatos, de Gredos, de Estrella.
To the south of the last ridge at an altitude of 648 meters is the city of Madrid, which is one of the highest capital cities in Europe.
The highest point of the Cordillera system is the Plaza del Moro Almansor (2, 592 meters), located on the Sierra de Gredos (ridge). It is also the highest point of the Central Cordillera.
Pyrenees
The Cantabrian mountains in Spain are a continuation of the highest and most powerful mountain system of this state - the Pyrenees. They are several ridges located in relation to each other in parallel from west to east (length 450 kilometers).
The Pyrenees is a kind of border between Spain and France. In general, this system covers territories in France, Spain and the Principality of Andorra. It stretched from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea. The southern slope is the largest international mountain tourism center.
Although the height of the Pyrenees is on average 2, 500 m, these mountains have several convenient passes up to 2, 000 meters high. Four railways pass through them.
The main peak, having a height of 3405 meters, is Aneto Peak. This is the highest mountain in Spain in the Pyrenees.
