Montes de Toledo

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This article is about the mountain system. For other uses, see Montes de Toledo (disambiguation).
Montes de Toledo
Cabañeros.jpg
View of one of the eastern ranges in Cabañeros National Park
Highest point
PeakLa Villuerca
Elevation1,603 m (5,259 ft)
Coordinates39°30′45″N 04°43′53″W / 39.51250°N 4.73139°W / 39.51250; -4.73139
Dimensions
Length350 km (220 mi) E/W
Width100 km (62 mi) N/S
Geography
Montes de Toledo9.png
Location of the Montes de Toledo System in the Iberian Peninsula
CountriesSpain and Portugal
CommunitiesCastile-La Mancha, Extremadura and Alto Alentejo
Range coordinates39°23′0″N 4°29′30″W / 39.38333°N 4.49167°W / 39.38333; -4.49167Coordinates: 39°23′0″N 4°29′30″W / 39.38333°N 4.49167°W / 39.38333; -4.49167
Geology
OrogenyAlpine
Age of rockTertiary
Type of rockSedimentary rock

The Montes de Toledo are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula. They divide the drainage basin of the Tagus from the basin of the Guadiana. The highest peak is 1,603 m (5,259 ft) high La Villuerca.[1]

Description[]

The Montes de Toledo are located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, cutting transversally from east to west across the lower portion of the Meseta Central. The length of the Montes de Toledo is 350 km (220 mi) and their maximum width up to 100 km (62 mi) near Sonseca and Puertollano.

The eastern Montes de Toledo ranges form one of the natural limits of the historical La Mancha region in Castile-La Mancha and the western end, including the ranges forming the broader Montes de Toledo, reaches into Portalegre District, Portugal.[2]

Geology[]

Geologically the series of ranges making up the system were formed by Alpine orogeny, but unlike the Central System further north the Montes de Toledo comprise an older terrain of elongated belts of folded and thrust faulted sedimentary rocks that is quite heavily eroded.[3]

The geological structure of the Montes de Toledo is similar to the geology of the Appalachians and akin as well to the geology of the Sierra Morena range further south.[4]

Ranges[]

The Montes de Toledo are divided in the following physiographic longitudinal sectors or zones:

  • The Montes de Toledo in a strict sense are located in the eastern section of the system, in northwestern Ciudad Real Province and southwestern Toledo Province, giving its name to the Montes de Toledo Comarca. Despite its name this comarca only includes a small part of the range.[5] The main summits of this region are (1,447 m (4,747 ft)), (1,421 m (4,662 ft)), Peñafiel (1,319 m (4,327 ft)) and Amor (1379).
    • The main range of this zone is , with the (highest point 1,213 m (3,980 ft) high Pico Alamillo), , , , and subranges.
    • Other ranges of this zone are , ,[6] and .
  • The broader Montes de Toledo system includes the following ranges stretching towards the west:
    • , highest point (1,324 m (4,344 ft)). Other noteworthy peaks are (1,279 m (4,196 ft)) and (1,246 m (4,088 ft)). It is located in La Jara Comarca at the border area between Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha. Nearby are minor ranges such as the , and , also known collectively as "Sierras de la Jara".[7]
    • , parallel to the Sierra de Altamira further east. , 1,443 m (4,734 ft), is the highest point of the range. The Guadarranque River runs by Navatrasierra in the valley between the two ranges.[8]
    • Sierra de Villuercas, also known as Sierra de Guadalupe, it rises within Extremadura in Las Villuercas comarca, province of Cáceres. This range is where the highest altitudes of the whole system are found. Besides 1,603 m (5,259 ft) high La Villuerca, the highest peaks are (1,428 m (4,685 ft)), Ballesteros (1,342 m (4,403 ft)), Sobacorbas (1,320 m (4,330 ft)) and Risco Redondo (1,287 m (4,222 ft)).[9]
    • Sierra de Montánchez, located in the central/southern region of Cáceres Province. Its highest point is 995 m (3,264 ft) high . Other notable summits are (955 m (3,133 ft)) and Alijares (786 m (2,579 ft)).[10]
    • Sierra de San Pedro, between Cáceres and Badajoz provinces. Its highest peaks are (702 m (2,303 ft)), Atalaya (624 m (2,047 ft)), Chorlo (624 m (2,047 ft)), Morrón del Cotarro (615 m (2,018 ft)) and Manzano (610 m (2,000 ft)). The , also known as Sierra de Santiago is a small range located north of the western end of Sierra de San Pedro, above Carbajo and Santiago de Alcántara.[11]
    • Serra de São Mamede, located in the Alto Alentejo Province, Portugal, bordering Extremadura. Higher than the preceding two ranges, this range forms the western end of the greater Montes de Toledo. Its highest point is 1,025 m (3,363 ft) high . Other important peaks are Fria, Pico de Marvão and Castelo de Vide. The town of Marvão is located on top of a ridge of the range.[12]

Main ranges and features[]

Protected areas[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ La Villuerca picture
  2. ^ Geografia de Extremadura[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Wes Gibbons & Teresa Moreno, The geology of Spain , ISBN 978-1-86239-110-9
  4. ^ Julio Muñoz Jiménez, Los Montes de Toledo. Estudios de Geografía Física. Departamento de Geografía de la Universidad de Oviedo. Instituto J. S. Elcano (CSIC), Oviedo 1976
  5. ^ Pulgar y la comarca de Los Montes de Toledo
  6. ^ San Pablo de los Montes
  7. ^ Paseo por la Sierra de Altamira
  8. ^ Villuercas Ibores Jara - Red Extremeña de Desarrollo Rural
  9. ^ Geoparque - El patrimonio geológico de la comarca de Las Villuercas
  10. ^ Webcindario - Sierra de Montánchez Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Sierra de San Pedro, Extremadura - Tourism
  12. ^ Serra de Sao Mamede Natural Park

External links[]

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