Northern Spain is unlike other parts of Spain. Firstly it is green. The climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. They also have their different languages – Galician, Basque etc. Even their traditional musical instruments and dances are different to those in the south. This is very surprising in the European context. Spain is an old country by European standard and yet these minority communities still much in evidence. On the other hand, Germany and Italy are much younger countries, even though they share a common language within the two countries. It was the common language that united the German and also the Italian, to form their own countries.
The Cantabria range is a formidable barrier. Not only it divides the Green Spain from the rest of Spain, the Moorish conquest of Spain was stopped here at Cavadonga. Asturias is proud that it resisted invasions by the Moors. In the 10C, Al Mansur led 100 raid into the north alone. Right in the middle of the Cantabria range in the geological entity of Los Picos de Europa, which consists of three limestone massifs, with peaks reaching over 2600m high? It is the single largest limestone formation in the continent of Europe. This Powerpoint is a collection of photos taken in or around the National Park of Picos de Europa and also included photos of the Costa Verde some 20m away along the coast.
1. Picos de Europa
& the Costa Verde
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Available free for non-commercial and personal use.
First created 21 Oct 2011. Version 1.0 - 13 Nov 2013. Jerry Tse. London .
2. Highest Mountain Ranges of Spain
Third highest – Cordillera Cantabrica (Cantabrian Range), which is more
complex. Part of the range was linked to the mountain building period with
the Pyrenees and part of the range was formed later at the same time as
Sierra Nevada in the south. So its age ranges between 60m and 115m year
old.
Second highest – Pyrenees created
when Spain collided with France about
100-150m years
Highest – Sierra Nevada in Andalusia same
age as the Alps about 65m years old.
3. Cordillera Cantabrica (Cantabrian Range)
Cantabrian Mountain Range is the main barrier dividing between the “Green Spain” to the north and the dry central plateau. In
the centre of the range is the Picos de Europa which is made up of three massifs (upland areas on the map above). It was so
named because they were the first sight of Europe for ships returning from the Americas. (View of Picos de Europa by Migual
Angulo, a 3D designer)
4. Asiego, Cabrales
The Cantabrian Mountains is the main barrier for the moist Atlantic air reaching the dry centre of Spain. Asiego
21. Fuente de
A peak at Fuente de clearly showing limestone stratification (bottom left). The limestone of Picos de Europa was lay down
during the Carboniferous sea (345-280m years ago) on the seashore of the Laurentia continent of the Tethys Ocean, for some
55m years. During the Laurentia-Gondwana collision, the huge mountains weighed heavily, pulling down the surrounding
crust to form basins for the deposit of the Picos’ limestone.
28. Hermida Gorge
The karstification is another geological process that shaped the landscape of the Picos de Europa region. The area is full of
caves, sink-holes and lakes drained by underground rivers. Hermida Gorge.
38. Vicente de la Barquera
The harbour of St Vicente de la Barquera, one of the many coastal towns on the Costa Verde, at the estuary of the river
Rio Escudo.
39. Vicente de la Barquera
Waves at the old harbour . St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.
40. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.
41. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.
42. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.
43. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.
48. The End
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective
owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal
use.
Music – Composed by Sibelius, the Karelia Suits
intermezzo, performed by the Royal Philharmonic.