Maestrazgo, Aragon
Encyclopedia
Maestrazgo is a comarca in southeastern Aragon
, Spain
. Its names derives from the Maestrat/Maestrazgo mountain massif that extends to the east to the Comarques of the Valencian Community Alt Maestrat
and Baix Maestrat
. The most important town is Cantavieja
. It is bordered by the Aragonese comarcas of Andorra-Sierra de Arcos
, Cuencas Mineras
, Comunidad de Teruel and Bajo Aragón
, in the north and in the west and Gúdar-Javalambre
in the south, as well as with the Castellón Province (Ports (comarca)
, Alt Maestrat
Alcalatén
) in the east. Some municipal terms of this comarca are part of the historical region
of Lower Aragon
.
This comarca has a dry, continental climate
, with extreme seasonal changes, and even daily temperatures. Summers are hot and relatively short compared with the long, cold winters.
. The main range in this comarca is the Sierra de Gúdar
located roughly in the center. Other important ranges are Sierra de la Lastra, Sierra de Garrocha, Sierra de Caballos
, Sierra de la Cañada, Sierra Carrascosa
and Sierra del Rayo. The summits of the highest mountains, like Peñarroya (2,019), Alto del Pobo (1,770 m) and Tarayuela (1,738 m) are frequently covered with snow
in the winter.
The most important river draining the area is the Guadalope River. River Mijares marks the southern limits of the comarca and Alfambra River the western.
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Its names derives from the Maestrat/Maestrazgo mountain massif that extends to the east to the Comarques of the Valencian Community Alt Maestrat
Alt Maestrat
Alt Maestrat is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Albocàsser*Ares del Maestre*Benasal*Catí*Culla*Tírig*La Torre d'En Besora*Vilar de Canes*Villafranca del Cid...
and Baix Maestrat
Baix Maestrat
Baix Maestrat is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Alcalà de Xivert*Benicarló*Càlig*Canet lo Roig*Castell de Cabres*Cervera del Maestre*Chert/Xert*La Jana*Peñíscola*La Pobla de Benifassà...
. The most important town is Cantavieja
Cantavieja
Cantavieja is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 740 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Maestrazgo comarca.-Demography:-External links:**...
. It is bordered by the Aragonese comarcas of Andorra-Sierra de Arcos
Andorra-Sierra de Arcos
Andorra-Sierra de Arcos is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located in Teruel Province and it is named after Sierra de Arcos, a range of this mountainous area of the Sistema Ibérico....
, Cuencas Mineras
Cuencas Mineras
Cuencas Mineras is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located in Teruel Province, in the mountainous area of the Sistema Ibérico.The administrative capital is Utrillas, with 3,346 inhabitants the largest town of the comarca, but the historical and cultural center is Montalbán.This comarca owes its...
, Comunidad de Teruel and Bajo Aragón
Bajo Aragón
Bajo Aragón or Baix Aragó is an administrative comarca in eastern central Aragon, Spain. It was first established in 1999. It has a population of 29,358 and an area of 1.304,2 km². The seat of the comarca is in Alcañiz...
, in the north and in the west and Gúdar-Javalambre
Gúdar-Javalambre
Aramón JavalambreGúdar-Javalambre is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. The most important town is Mora de Rubielos.This comarca is located at the southern end of Aragon, bordering the Valencian Community...
in the south, as well as with the Castellón Province (Ports (comarca)
Ports (comarca)
Ports is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain. It mostly overlaps the historical comarca known as Ports de Morella , except for the municipal areas surrounding Catí and Vilafranca that were excluded from the present-day Ports...
, Alt Maestrat
Alt Maestrat
Alt Maestrat is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*Albocàsser*Ares del Maestre*Benasal*Catí*Culla*Tírig*La Torre d'En Besora*Vilar de Canes*Villafranca del Cid...
Alcalatén
Alcalatén
Alcalatén is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain.- Municipalities :*L'Alcora*Atzeneta del Maestrat*Benafigos*Xodos*Costur*Figueroles*Lucena del Cid*Useras*Vistabella del Maestrazgo...
) in the east. Some municipal terms of this comarca are part of the historical region
Historical region
Historical regions are delimitations of geographic areas for studying and analysing social development of period-specific cultures without any reference to contemporary political, economic or social organisations....
of Lower Aragon
Lower Aragon
Lower Aragon , also known as Tierra Baja, is a natural and historical region in Aragon, Spain. The name "Lower Aragon" refers to the areas of the lowest altitude within the Ebro river basin, but the historical region encompasses only the river basins of several right tributaries of the Ebro River,...
.
This comarca has a dry, continental climate
Continental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
, with extreme seasonal changes, and even daily temperatures. Summers are hot and relatively short compared with the long, cold winters.
Mountains and rivers
The Maestrazgo is in a very mountainous region located at the eastern end of the Iberian SystemSistema Ibérico
The Sistema Ibérico or Iberian System is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.It is a vast and complex system of mountain chains and massifs located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, but reaching almost the Mediterranean coast in the Land of Valencia in the east.From...
. The main range in this comarca is the Sierra de Gúdar
Sierra de Gúdar
Sierra de Gúdar is a mountain range in the Gúdar-Javalambre and Maestrazgo comarcas of Aragon and the Alto Mijares comarca of the Valencian Community, Spain. The highest point in the range is Peñarroya ....
located roughly in the center. Other important ranges are Sierra de la Lastra, Sierra de Garrocha, Sierra de Caballos
Sierra de Caballos
Sierra de Caballos or Sierra de los Caballos is a mountain range in the Maestrazgo and Bajo Aragón comarcas of Aragon, Teruel Province, Spain. The highest point in the range is Las Artigas . The Guadalopillo River flows along the northern side of the range.This arid-looking series of parallel...
, Sierra de la Cañada, Sierra Carrascosa
Sierra Carrascosa
Sierra Carrascosa is a mountain range in the Maestrazgo comarca of Aragon, Teruel Province, Spain. The highest point in the range is Muela Carrascosa...
and Sierra del Rayo. The summits of the highest mountains, like Peñarroya (2,019), Alto del Pobo (1,770 m) and Tarayuela (1,738 m) are frequently covered with snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
in the winter.
The most important river draining the area is the Guadalope River. River Mijares marks the southern limits of the comarca and Alfambra River the western.
See also
- Ports (comarca)Ports (comarca)Ports is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain. It mostly overlaps the historical comarca known as Ports de Morella , except for the municipal areas surrounding Catí and Vilafranca that were excluded from the present-day Ports...
- Comarcas of Aragon
- Mountains of Aragon
- Iberian System