Gorbea

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Gorbea

Mount Gorbea summit and Aldamin peak.
Elevation 1481 m
Location Biscay / Alava, Spain
Range Basque mountains
Prominence 867 m
Easiest route From Pagomakurre (900 m)

Gorbea or Gorbeia is a mountain and massif, the highest one of Biscay and Alava (Basque Country,Spain) with a height of 1,481 m AMSL. The massif covers a wide area between the two provinces. The main mountain is a round grass-covered summit where a 20 m tall metallic cross has been constructed to reach the altitude of 1,500 m. Other important montains of the massif are the Lekanda (1301 m) and Aldamin limestone peaks.

Part of the massif is delimited by the high karstic plateau of Itxina, an intrincate landscape of limestone full of shafts and caves like Supelegor. The Atxular´s Eye cave is the only walking access to the plateau.

The entire massif has been enclosed in a natural park of 20,000 ha of extension created by the Basque Government in 1994 to preserve the local flora of beeches and oaks and fauna of wild boars and deers. The main access points for the mountain are Murgia from Alava and Areatza from Biscay.

Gorbea natural park, Lekanda peak.
Gorbea natural park, Lekanda peak.


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