Basque mountains

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The Basque Mountains are a small mountain range situated in the northern Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Cantabrian Mountains to the west and the Pyrenees to the east. The range runs through the Basque Country.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Climate 2 Massifs 3 Nature 4 External link

[edit] Geography

It's a transitional range between the two major ones, geologists call the area "The Basque threshold" and some consider that the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees are a single greater range and the Basque Mountains are just part of both [1].

There are two parallel ranges runing from west to east, the inner one and the coastal one. In between them there is a 500 m high plateau called "Llanada Alavesa" (Alava plains) where Vitoria-Gasteiz is located. East of the Llanada a narrow valley called La Burunda or La Barranca separates the two ranges, between Urbasa-Andía (to the south) and Aralar (to the north). The valley is the main link between Vitoria-Gasteiz and Pamplona.

[edit] Climate

The coastal range forms the water divide of the Mediterranean and Atlantic bassins, the climate north of the range is milder and more oceanic while to the south of the coastal range and in the inner range winters are cold and snowy and summers drier and hotter than in the northern range, in general a more Mediterranean climate can be found south of the coastal range, but much colder.

The snow cover is very irregular during the winter season. From November to April snow cover can be found in the Basque mountains above 700 m AMSL, but the ever changing weather conditions of the Bay of Biscay can bring great accumulations of snow and a sudden rise of temperatures can melt it in a few days due to the Foehn wind effect. This sudden melting can cause flooding problems, specially in the plains of northern Alava.

[edit] Massifs

It is a range of moderate height; Aketegi (1,544 m) in the Aitzkorri massif is the highest peak.

• In the inner range the main massifs from west to east are:
  • Sierra Salbada (Orduña)
  • Mounts of Gasteiz, the most important is Kapildui (1,177 m)
  • Izki
  • Urbasa, a 1,000 m high plateau
  • Andía, with the impressive Beriain (1,493 m)
• In the coastal range its main massifs from west to east are:
  • Gorbea (Gorbeia) 1,481 m, maximum height of Biscay.
  • Urkiola, Anboto (1,331 m) being its highest peak.
  • Elgea
  • Aitzkorri
  • Urkilla, the Aratz is the maximum height (1,442 m).
  • Aralar, its most known peak being Txindoki (1,346 m)

Other important mountains nearer the sea include Ganekogorta, Oiz, Sollube ,Arrate, Kalamua, Hernio and Jaizkibel

[edit] Nature

The range is almost entirely limestone, but other materials can be found. The slopes are generally gentle, but there are many limestone peaks and cliffs in which vultures dwell. There is abundant oceanic climate vegetation, like beeches, oaks, birches and other like the Cantabrian Holm Oaks and the Pinus radiata, the last one artificially introduced for plantation.

[edit] External link

Basque mountains list

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