Anboto
Encyclopedia
Anboto is a limestone
mountain of the Western Basque Country
, the highest peak of the Urkiola
range and not far from the pass of Urkiolamendi between Durango
and Vitoria-Gasteiz
.
, very compact and of gray color, the mountain contains fossil
remnants of massive prehistoric coral
s and large seashell
s.
The north face has impressive 1,000 m high cliffs, towering over the valley of Atxondo
.
The south face descends more smoothly toward the pass of Urkiolamendi, with less unevenness and by way of which the most popular routes of ascent to the summit are opened.
Its ascent, which can be carried out on any of its faces, requires in all cases certain care when passing next to the cliffs.
The Anboto is one of the most known and most characteristic summits of Biscay
and of the Basque Country
.
On its summit there is a geodesic vertex of second order http://carto.alava.net/scripts/esrimap.dll?Name=Alava&Cmd=Consultas&Nombre=CONSULTARHITOSSINSALTO&Filtro=1&vista=&idioma=0&CAM_HOJA5000=87-31&CAM_NUM2=30.
and mythology
. In a cave close to its summit, the legend tells us that Mari
the Lady of Anboto has her main dwelling. Legend says that it is usual to see her in the mouth of the cave, on days of good weather, combing her pretty blond hair with a comb of gold in the sunshine. It is not rare either to see her spend nights as a great ball of fire in the sky above Anboto or toward other places of the Basque Country where she possesses dwellings like the nearby Oiz
or Aizkorri. Depending on where she is found there will be good or bad weather.
valley. From Urkiolamendi the road begins at the famous sanctuary of San Antonio (730 m). From the valley of Atxarte begins the complete ascent of the crests, long but simple along Alluitz
(1,034 m) and Anboto (1,331 m). From Otxandio
(549 m) or Aramaio (312 m), stopping at the extensive and grassy hillock of Zabalaundi (896 m), where we sample one of Anboto's more captivating images, being able to climb here directly to the top passing near the caves of the Lady of Amboto and the Eye of Eskilar.
The most popular way consists of leaving from Urkiolamendi pass, to flank Mount Urkiolamendi (1,009 m) arriving at Asuntze (870 m), then climbing right under the summit, to the hillock Pagozelai (970 m) ascending its stony slopes (Arrueta) to the hillock of Agindi (1,227 m) just west of the summit.
The North face is a rocky 1,000 m climb that requires some rock climbing
and can be very dangerous in bad weather conditions or ice.
Climbing Times:
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
mountain of the Western Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, the highest peak of the Urkiola
Urkiola
Urkiola is a mountain range of the Basque mountains in Biscay near Durango, in the western Basque Country, Spain. The range's highest mountain is Anboto...
range and not far from the pass of Urkiolamendi between Durango
Durango, Bizkaia
Durango is a city and municipality of the historical territory and province of Biscay, located in the Basque Country, Spain. It is also the capital city of Durangaldea, one of the comarcas of Biscay...
and Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain with a population of 235,661 people. It is the second largest Basque city...
.
Description
An immense mass of limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, very compact and of gray color, the mountain contains fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
remnants of massive prehistoric coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
s and large seashell
Seashell
A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer created by an animal that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers...
s.
The north face has impressive 1,000 m high cliffs, towering over the valley of Atxondo
Atxondo
Atxondo is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
.
The south face descends more smoothly toward the pass of Urkiolamendi, with less unevenness and by way of which the most popular routes of ascent to the summit are opened.
Its ascent, which can be carried out on any of its faces, requires in all cases certain care when passing next to the cliffs.
The Anboto is one of the most known and most characteristic summits of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
and of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
.
On its summit there is a geodesic vertex of second order http://carto.alava.net/scripts/esrimap.dll?Name=Alava&Cmd=Consultas&Nombre=CONSULTARHITOSSINSALTO&Filtro=1&vista=&idioma=0&CAM_HOJA5000=87-31&CAM_NUM2=30.
Mythology
Anboto has always been related to magicMagic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
and mythology
Basque mythology
The mythology of the ancient Basques largely did not survive the, albeit late, arrival of Christianity in the Basque Country between the 4th and 12th century AD...
. In a cave close to its summit, the legend tells us that Mari
Mari (goddess)
Mari, Mari Urraca, Anbotoko Mari and the possibly distinct Murumendiko Dama was a goddess — a lamia — of the Basques. She was married to the god Sugaar...
the Lady of Anboto has her main dwelling. Legend says that it is usual to see her in the mouth of the cave, on days of good weather, combing her pretty blond hair with a comb of gold in the sunshine. It is not rare either to see her spend nights as a great ball of fire in the sky above Anboto or toward other places of the Basque Country where she possesses dwellings like the nearby Oiz
Oiz
Mount Oiz , is one of the most popular summits of Biscay in the Basque Country . Its summits form part of a long range that feeds several rivers: Ibaizabal, Artibai, Lea, Oka and Deva in Gipuzkoa all of them running to the Bay of Biscay....
or Aizkorri. Depending on where she is found there will be good or bad weather.
Ascents
Anboto can be reached from a great number of places. From the north it is a 1,000 m ascent from the AtxondoAtxondo
Atxondo is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
valley. From Urkiolamendi the road begins at the famous sanctuary of San Antonio (730 m). From the valley of Atxarte begins the complete ascent of the crests, long but simple along Alluitz
Alluitz
Alluitz is a peak of Biscay, Basque Country , 1,034.3 metres high.- Description :It is the second highest peak of the Urkiola range. It is part of the same compact gray limestone mass that forms the Anboto....
(1,034 m) and Anboto (1,331 m). From Otxandio
Otxandio
Otxandio is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.Athletic Bilbao left-back Koikili Lertxundi was born in Otxandio.-External links:*...
(549 m) or Aramaio (312 m), stopping at the extensive and grassy hillock of Zabalaundi (896 m), where we sample one of Anboto's more captivating images, being able to climb here directly to the top passing near the caves of the Lady of Amboto and the Eye of Eskilar.
The North face is a rocky 1,000 m climb that requires some rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
and can be very dangerous in bad weather conditions or ice.
Climbing Times:
- Urkiolamendi (2h).
- Atxarte (4h, up to the crest).
- Atxarte (2h 30 m, by Asuntze).
- Aramaio (3h).
- Arrazola(2h 15 m, North face).
- Arrazola (3h, by Zabalaundi).