Northern Spain is unlike other parts of Spain. Firstly it is green. The climate is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. They also have their different languages – Galician, Basque etc. Even their traditional musical instruments and dances are different to those in the south. This is very surprising in the European context. Spain is an old country by European standard and yet these minority communities still much in evidence. On the other hand, Germany and Italy are much younger countries, even though they share a common language within the two countries. It was the common language that united the German and also the Italian, to form their own countries. The Cantabria range is a formidable barrier. Not only it divides the Green Spain from the rest of Spain, the Moorish conquest of Spain was stopped here at Cavadonga. Asturias is proud that it resisted invasions by the Moors. In the 10C, Al Mansur led 100 raid into the north alone. Right in the middle of the Cantabria range in the geological entity of Los Picos de Europa, which consists of three limestone massifs, with peaks reaching over 2600m high? It is the single largest limestone formation in the continent of Europe. This Powerpoint is a collection of photos taken in or around the National Park of Picos de Europa and also included photos of the Costa Verde some 20m away along the coast.

1. Picos de Europa
& the Costa Verde
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners.
Available free for non-commercial and personal use.
First created 21 Oct 2011. Version 1.0 - 13 Nov 2013. Jerry Tse. London .

2. Highest Mountain Ranges of Spain
Third highest – Cordillera Cantabrica (Cantabrian Range), which is more
complex. Part of the range was linked to the mountain building period with
the Pyrenees and part of the range was formed later at the same time as
Sierra Nevada in the south. So its age ranges between 60m and 115m year
old.
Second highest – Pyrenees created
when Spain collided with France about
100-150m years
Highest – Sierra Nevada in Andalusia same
age as the Alps about 65m years old.

3. Cordillera Cantabrica (Cantabrian Range)
Cantabrian Mountain Range is the main barrier dividing between the “Green Spain” to the north and the dry central plateau. In
the centre of the range is the Picos de Europa which is made up of three massifs (upland areas on the map above). It was so
named because they were the first sight of Europe for ships returning from the Americas. (View of Picos de Europa by Migual
Angulo, a 3D designer)

4. Asiego, Cabrales
The Cantabrian Mountains is the main barrier for the moist Atlantic air reaching the dry centre of Spain. Asiego

5. Asiego, Cabrales
View from the Asiego, Cabrales Mountain.

6. San Pelayo
Moisture from the Atlantic forced up over the mountains, appears as clouds and collected on the mountain top. San Pelayo.

7. San Pelayo
Misty peaks. San Pelayo.

8. San Pelayo
Morning at San Pelayo.

9. San Pelayo
Morning at San Pelayo.

10. San Pelayo
Morning at San Pelayo.

11. San Pelayo
Morning at San Pelayo.

12. San Pelayo
Evening Moon. San Pelayo.

13. San Pelayo
Farm house . Taken at San Pelayo.

14. San Pelayo
The village of San Pelayo.

15. San Pelayo
Often regarded as an invasive plant because of its aggressive growth. This is the Common European Ivy. San Pelayo.

16. San Pelayo
Flower of the Common European Ivy. San Pelayo.

17. Fuente de
The Picos de Europa are composed almost purely of limestone. It is the largest single mass of mountain limestone in
Europe. Fuente de.

18. Fuente de
The cable car at Fuente de with its limestone backdrop.

19. Fuente de
View at Fuente de.

20. Fuente de
View at Fuente de.

21. Fuente de
A peak at Fuente de clearly showing limestone stratification (bottom left). The limestone of Picos de Europa was lay down
during the Carboniferous sea (345-280m years ago) on the seashore of the Laurentia continent of the Tethys Ocean, for some
55m years. During the Laurentia-Gondwana collision, the huge mountains weighed heavily, pulling down the surrounding
crust to form basins for the deposit of the Picos’ limestone.

22. Fuente de
The Yellow-billed chough (Pyrrhocarax graculus) often found in high altitude. Fuente De.

23. Fuente de
A thistle flower hiding between rocks at the high atitude. Fuente De.

24. Picos de Europa
The landscape of Picos de Europa was also shaped glaciations as recent as in the 19C. A typical glacial hanging valley.
Fuente De.

25. Hermida Gorge
Hermida Gorge

26. Hermida Gorge
Sunset at the Hermida Gorge

27. Hermida Gorge
Pinnacle rocks. Hermida Gorge

28. Hermida Gorge
The karstification is another geological process that shaped the landscape of the Picos de Europa region. The area is full of
caves, sink-holes and lakes drained by underground rivers. Hermida Gorge.

29. Potes
Restaurant by the river Diva, Potes.

30. Potes
Torre del Infantado tower. The town
is the capital of Liebana. The town
was first recorded in 847. Potes.

31. Potes
A lady in traditional costume of the area. Potea.

32. Cahencho
Misty peak viewed at Cahencho.

33. Cares Gorge
The River Cares gorges separates the Central Massif from the Western Massif of the Picos de Europa.

34. Cares Gorge
A mountain goat at the Cares gorges .

35. Covadonga Lakes
This is one of the two large glacial lakes in the area, Lago de Enol. Covadonga.

36. Covadonga Lakes
The other glacial lake of the area, Lago de Ercina. Covadonga.

37. Covadonga Lakes
Cattle grazing by the lake, Lago de Ercina. Covadonga.

38. Vicente de la Barquera
The harbour of St Vicente de la Barquera, one of the many coastal towns on the Costa Verde, at the estuary of the river
Rio Escudo.

39. Vicente de la Barquera
Waves at the old harbour . St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

40. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

41. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

42. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

43. Vicente de la Barquera
St Vicente de la Barquera, Costa Verde.

44. Playa la Franca
Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

45. Playa la Franca
Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

46. Playa la Franca
Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

47. Playa la Franca
Playa la Franca. Costa Verde.

48. The End
All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective
owners. Available free for non-commercial and personal
use.
Music – Composed by Sibelius, the Karelia Suits
intermezzo, performed by the Royal Philharmonic.