Serra dos Ancares

The Serra dos Ancares (Spanish: Sierra de los Ancares, also known as Sierra de Ancares) is a mountain range of the Galician Massif in north-west Spain, extending in a south-westerly direction from the western end of the Cantabrian Mountains in Asturias.

Serra dos Ancares
Sierra de los Ancares
General view of the range
Highest point
Peak	Cuiña
Elevation	1,987 m (6,519 ft)
Coordinates	42°46′05″N 6°53′53″W
Dimensions
Length	95 km (59 mi) NE/SW
Width	32 km (20 mi) NW/SE
Geography
Serra dos Ancares Location in Spain
Location	Lugo Province, Galicia León Province, Castile and León
Country	Spain
Parent range	Galician Massif
Geology
Orogeny	Variscan orogeny
Rock age	Ordovician
Rock type(s)	Slate, limestone, sandstone, quartzite

Geography

The range forms the boundary between the autonomous communities of Galicia and Castile and León. The highest point of the range is the Cuiña Peak at 1,987 metres (6,519 ft). Other notable peaks are Mustallar (1,935 m) and Miravalles (1,969 m). The smaller Serra do Courel lies south of this range, stretching parallel to it.

The main trees in the range are willow and European alder close to water courses, as well as chestnut, ash, common hazel, oak and common holly. Above 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) there is brushland with tree heath and juniper.^[1]

This area of Spain contains many isolated rural communities that were largely cut off from the outside world until roads were built in the mid 20th century. The most significant element of the whole architecture of the area is the palloza or casa teito, stone buildings of ancient origin, with a circular or elliptical plan.

Ecology

Sierra de los Ancares is the name of a Site of Community Importance in the province of León.^[2]

Os Ancares Lucenses y Montes de Cervantes, Navia y Becerrea was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2006.^[3][4] Los Ancares Leoneses is also a biosphere reserve.

• 
  Serra dos Ancares (Lugo)
• 
  Serra dos Ancares (Lugo)
• 
  Serra dos Ancares (León)
• 
  Serra dos Ancares (León)

See also

• Los Ancares
• Os Ancares

References

1. González Arias, Alejandro,Guía e rutas dos Ancares, Vigo: Editorial Galaxia, 1995, pp 13-14
2. Sierra de los Ancares Archived 2011-09-06 at the Wayback Machine, Urugallo cantábrico website. According to this source, the SCI covers the same area as a regional hunting reserve.
3. "Os Ancares..." UNESCO. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
4. Os Ancares UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve

External links

• Los Ancares, a very special reserve
• Valle De Ancares (Ancares Valley)
• Sierra de los Ancares