A mountain wall extends right across Northern Spain, through the length of the Pyrenees, the Basque Country and along the north coast in the Cordillera Cantábrica, before spreading out and turning south into the hills of Galicia.
The mountains contain the most spectacular scenery, and separate Northern Spain from central Spain, creating the green, Atlantic climate that gives the northern regions their distinctive feel. Many parts of the northern mountains remain remote, thinly populated and thickly wooded, and so provide a home for a fascinating range of wildlife.
The mountains reach their highest points in two great massifs, the High Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa, much of them above 2,000 m (6,560 ft), and with alpine landscapes of massive rockfaces, gorges and near-infinite views.
They are dotted with alpine flowers and animals found only in high mountains such as snow voles and chamois. High above fly eagles, falcons and vultures. On the lower slopes, meadows explode into colour with flowers and butterflies each spring.
The Picos de Europa, straddling Asturias and Cantabria, form Europe's largest national park. With an excellent network of paths and refuges, it's a fabulous area for walking and climbing, with beautifully contrasting scenery of peaks, meadows and valleys.
Thanks to their remoteness, steep terrain and rainfall, huge areas of the northern mountains are still clad in forest. Mainly of beech, chestnut, ash and Pyrenean oak, they are among Europe's oldest broad-leaf forests. They are also the refuge of Spain's rarest birds and wildlife – wildcats, wolves and bears.
The mountains approach the sea in cliffs and giant headlands of granite and slate, separated by an enormously varied mix of deep, wooded inlets, rocky coves, rolling sand dunes and marshy wetlands. There are huge seabird colonies, especially on the tiny offshore islands. Sheltered estuaries provide feeding-grounds for many wading birds, and are visited by porpoises and dolphins.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Margaret Rudston at 10092010
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