Sierra de Híjar

Sierra de Híjar
The Sierra de Híjar range, viewed from Valdecebollas. In the foreground, the peaks of Peña Labra, Tres Mares, and Cuchillón are visible. In the background, Peña Agujas, Cueva del Cobre, and the Picos de Europa.
Highest point
Peak Cuchillón
Elevation 2,179–2,222 m (7,149–7,290 ft)
Dimensions
Length 24 km (15 mi) NNW
Area 0.16 km2 (0.062 sq mi)
Geography
Country  Spain
States/Provinces Province of Palencia and Autonomous Community of Cantabria
Parent range Cantabrian Mountains
Location of the Sierra de Híjar.
Tres Mares is one of the more famous peaks in the range.
Peña Labra, one of the prominent peaks of the range.

The Sierra de Híjar is a mountain range of the Cantabrian Mountains System, located in the Province of Palencia and the Autonomous Community of Cantabria in northern Spain.

Geography

The range is 24 kilometres (15 mi) long, and runs in a west-northwest to east-southeast direction. The highest peaks in the range are concentrated in the 18 kilometres (11 mi) northeastern to central section. From there the altitude declines. The rangehas a maximum width of 5,200 metres (3.2 mi), between Penaguda and Sel de la Fuente.

The range's highest point is at the peak of Cuchillón, although its exact altitude differs by source, including: 2,174 metres (7,133 ft) according to the National Geographic Institute of Spain (Instituto Geográfico Nacional); and 2,222 metres (7,290 ft) according to Francisco Hernández-Pacheco and in other publications by the same National Geographic Institute. [1][2]

This system marks the boundary between the regions of Campoo in Cantabria and La Pernia in Palencia of Castile and León. It is one of the southernmost foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains range, and the last to rise over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in elevation.[3]

Main peaks

The highest points are concentrated in the central sector, including Tres Mares and Cueto Manin. The northwestern sector contains the long spine of Peña Labra and an access point to the summit from Polaciones. The southeastern sector, extending from Sestil to Alto de Hoyos, is the lowest and is called the Cinto Brotherhood.

Main heights, northwest to southeast.[3]
Name, altitudeCoordinatesNotes
Peña Labra, 2029 m43°02′44″N 4°25′55″W / 43.04556°N 4.43194°W / 43.04556; -4.43194At this peak there is a triangulation station of the first order. It ends a characteristic plateau, which joins the Fuente del Chivo with a 2000 meter boundary.
Tres Mares, 2171 m43°02′16″N 4°24′14″W / 43.03778°N 4.40389°W / 43.03778; -4.40389There is a terrace at the top that acts as a great viewpoint.
Las Hoyas, 2106 m43°01′50″N 4°23′39″W / 43.03056°N 4.39417°W / 43.03056; -4.39417
Cuchillón, 2174–2222 m43°01′36″N 4°23′27″W / 43.02667°N 4.39083°W / 43.02667; -4.39083Highest point in the range. It is also referred to as "Canchal de la Muela" and "Peña del Pando", or "Rock of Pando", due to the summit's flat shape.
Cotomañinos o Guzmerones, 2144 m43°00′35″N 4°22′42″W / 43.00972°N 4.37833°W / 43.00972; -4.37833This point and the previous point form the glacial basin of Hoyo Sacro and Guzmerones.
Cueto Mañín, 2122 m43°00′19″N 4°22′28″W / 43.00528°N 4.37444°W / 43.00528; -4.37444Peña de las Agujas rises in this point's southern slope.
Valdecebollas, 2143 m42°58′00″N 4°21′54″W / 42.96667°N 4.36500°W / 42.96667; -4.36500A ridge to the south of the range's main line.
Sestil, 2065 m42°58′20″N 4°20′53″W / 42.97222°N 4.34806°W / 42.97222; -4.34806Between this point and Cueto Manin lies Sel de la Fuente.
Peña Rubia, 1937 m42°57′58″N 4°18′00″W / 42.96611°N 4.30000°W / 42.96611; -4.30000Forms the long crest that births Camesa.
Cuesta Labra, 1951 m42°58′00″N 4°16′55″W / 42.96667°N 4.28194°W / 42.96667; -4.28194On its north side are the glacial basins of Bucer and Vitor. It binds to the east with Peña Ensillada towards Somahoz.[4]
Sierra de Híjar (right) from Reinosa.
Cows on brañas of Sestil.

Toponymy

According to cartographic studies by the National Geographic Institute of Spain and other works, the name "Peña Labra" is often used to refer to this system, especially as seen from the south side.[5] From this perspective, the top of Peña Labra appears most prominently, though it is not the highest in the system. However, all previously existing mapping, including the first series of the National Geographic Institute, or those of Francisco Coello and Quesada and Pascual Madoz, refers to this mountain as "Sierra de Híjar."

References

  1. ↑ Hernández-Pacheco 1944, p. 44, https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/807360644.
  2. ↑ Instituto Geográfico Nacional de España (2008). "Temario básico y bibliografía recomendada para la preparación de la Oposición al Cuerpo de Ingenieros Geógrafos.Conocimientos avanzados en Geografía y Cartografía" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 Instituto Geográfico Nacional de España. "visor Iberpix". Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Luis Francisco, Felices Crespo; Felices de la Fuente, José Luis (2006). Andando por el Cielo de Cantabria (in Spanish). Santander: Artemásdiseño. p. 52. ISBN 84-611-2768-4.
  5. ↑ Alcalde Crespo et al. 1983, p. 15, https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/18106988.
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