picos-de europa & costa verde

First created 21 Oct 2011. Version 1.0 - 13 Nov 2013. Jerry Tse. London.

Picos de Europa

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Available free for non-commercial and personal use.

& the Costa Verde

Highest Mountain Ranges of Spain

Highest – Sierra Nevada in Andalusia same age as the Alps about 65m years old.

Second highest – Pyrenees created when Spain collided with France about 100-150m years

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.

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)

Asiego, Cabrales

The Cantabrian Mountains is the main barrier for the moist Atlantic air reaching the dry centre of Spain. Asiego

Asiego, Cabrales

View from the Asiego, Cabrales Mountain.

San Pelayo

Moisture from the Atlantic forced up over the mountains, appears as clouds and collected on the mountain top. San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Misty peaks. San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Morning at San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Morning at San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Morning at San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Morning at San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Evening Moon. San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Farm house . Taken at San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

The village of San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Often regarded as an invasive plant because of its aggressive growth. This is the Common European Ivy. San Pelayo.

San Pelayo

Flower of the Common European Ivy. San Pelayo.

Fuente de

The Picos de Europa are composed almost purely of limestone. It is the largest single mass of mountain limestone in Europe. Fuente de.

The cable car at Fuente de with its limestone backdrop.

Fuente de

View at Fuente de.

Fuente de

View at Fuente de.

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.

Fuente de

The Yellow-billed chough (Pyrrhocarax graculus) often found in high altitude. Fuente De.

Fuente de

A thistle flower hiding between rocks at the high atitude. Fuente De.

Fuente de

Picos de Europa

The landscape of Picos de Europa was also shaped glaciations as recent as in the 19C. A typical glacial hanging valley. Fuente De.

Hermida Gorge

Hermida Gorge

Hermida Gorge

Sunset at the Hermida Gorge

Hermida Gorge

Pinnacle rocks. Hermida Gorge

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.

Potes

Restaurant by the river Diva, Potes.

Potes

Torre del Infantado tower. The town is the capital of Liebana. The town was first recorded in 847. Potes.

Potes

A lady in traditional costume of the area. Potea.

Cahencho

Misty peak viewed at Cahencho.

Cares Gorge

The River Cares gorges separates the Central Massif from the Western Massif of the Picos de Europa.

Cares Gorge

A mountain goat at the Cares gorges .

Covadonga Lakes

This is one of the two large glacial lakes in the area, Lago de Enol. Covadonga.

Covadonga Lakes

The other glacial lake of the area, Lago de Ercina. Covadonga.

Covadonga Lakes

Cattle grazing by the lake, Lago de Ercina. Covadonga.

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.

Vicente de la Barquera

Waves at the old harbour . St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

Vicente de la Barquera

St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

Vicente de la Barquera

St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

Vicente de la Barquera

St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

Vicente de la Barquera

St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

Playa la Franca

Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

Playa la Franca

Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

Playa la Franca

Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

Playa la Franca

Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal

use.

The End

Music – Composed by Sibelius, the Karelia Suits intermezzo, performed by the Royal Philharmonic.