Montes de Toledo

Coordinates: 39°23′0″N 4°29′30″W / 39.38333°N 4.49167°W / 39.38333; -4.49167
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Montes de Toledo
View of one of the eastern ranges in Cabañeros National Park
Highest point
PeakLa Villuerca
Elevation1,603 m (5,259 ft)
Coordinates39°30′45″N 04°43′53″W / 39.51250°N 4.73139°W / 39.51250; -4.73139
Dimensions
Length350 km (220 mi) E/W
Width100 km (62 mi) N/S
Geography
Location of the Montes de Toledo System in the Iberian Peninsula
CountriesSpain and Portugal
CommunitiesCastile-La Mancha, Extremadura and Alto Alentejo
Range coordinates39°23′0″N 4°29′30″W / 39.38333°N 4.49167°W / 39.38333; -4.49167
Geology
OrogenyAlpine
Age of rockTertiary
Type of rockSedimentary rock

The Montes de Toledo are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula. They divide the drainage basin of the Tagus from the basin of the Guadiana. The highest peak is 1,603 m (5,259 ft) high La Villuerca.[1]

Description[edit]

The Montes de Toledo are located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, cutting transversally from east to west across the lower portion of the Meseta Central. The length of the Montes de Toledo is 350 km (220 mi) and their maximum width up to 100 km (62 mi) near Sonseca and Puertollano.

The eastern Montes de Toledo ranges form one of the natural limits of the historical La Mancha region in Castile-La Mancha and the western end, including the ranges forming the broader Montes de Toledo, reaches into Portalegre District, Portugal.[2]

Geology[edit]

Geologically the series of ranges making up the system were formed by Alpine orogeny, but unlike the Central System further north the Montes de Toledo comprise an older terrain of elongated belts of folded and thrust faulted sedimentary rocks that is quite heavily eroded.[3]

The geological structure of the Montes de Toledo is similar to the geology of the Appalachians and akin as well to the geology of the Sierra Morena range further south.[4]

Ranges[edit]

The Montes de Toledo are divided in the following physiographic longitudinal sectors or zones:

Main ranges and features[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ La Villuerca picture
  2. ^ Geografia de Extremadura[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Wes Gibbons & Teresa Moreno, The geology of Spain , ISBN 978-1-86239-110-9
  4. ^ Julio Muñoz Jiménez, Los Montes de Toledo. Estudios de Geografía Física. Departamento de Geografía de la Universidad de Oviedo. Instituto J. S. Elcano (CSIC), Oviedo 1976
  5. ^ Pulgar y la comarca de Los Montes de Toledo
  6. ^ San Pablo de los Montes
  7. ^ Paseo por la Sierra de Altamira
  8. ^ Villuercas Ibores Jara - Red Extremeña de Desarrollo Rural
  9. ^ Geoparque - El patrimonio geológico de la comarca de Las Villuercas
  10. ^ Webcindario - Sierra de Montánchez Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Sierra de San Pedro, Extremadura - Tourism
  12. ^ Serra de Sao Mamede Natural Park

External links[edit]