Mount Abantos
Encyclopedia
Mount Abantos is a mountain in the Sierra de Guadarrama
range in the Sistema Central
of Spain, a chain that runs from east to west. For the most part, the mountain is located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the Community of Madrid, with part of its west side in the province of Ávila.
A small part of the wast side of the mountain lies in the province of Ávila (Castilla y León).
The mountain has a smooth contour, and almost all of its slope is covered by pine trees, some of them repopulated. On the wast side of Abantos is the port of Malagon, one of the toughest mountain stages of the Vuelta a España
(Tour of Spain).
, the red buzzard, the griffon vulture
or African vulture
, which can sometimes be seen flying on the mountain. During the reign of King Philip II
, the mountain was also known as Buen Monte del Oso (lit. Good Bear Mountain) because of the abundance of big game species. At the top of Abantos is a weather station and an yellow electromagnetic signal reflector panel.
chose a site on the southern side of Abantos as the site of the Monastery of El Escorial
. In the 18th century, the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was founded. San Lorenzo de El Escorial is now an urban community with a population of over 17,000. On the mountain's northern side is another monument of historical and artistic interest, Valle de los Caídos ("Valley of the Fallen"). This monument was erected at Cuelgamuros Valley in the 20th century. The monument was conceived by then-dictator Francisco Franco
as a memorial to those who died during the Spanish Civil War
.
On 21 August 1999, a forest fire began on the east side of Abantos, charring over 450 hectares of pine forest. The burned area has since been repopulated with pine trees.
The routes for many Vueltas a España have passed through Abantos, and the mountain has been the final stage for the race on numerous occasions
Sierra de Guadarrama
The Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
range in the Sistema Central
Sistema Central
The Sistema Central is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula.-Description:The Sistema Central is a primary feature of the Meseta Central, the inner Iberian plateau, splitting the meseta into two parts...
of Spain, a chain that runs from east to west. For the most part, the mountain is located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the Community of Madrid, with part of its west side in the province of Ávila.
Geography
The mountain is one of the most prominent mountains in the Sierra de Guadarrama. It has an altitude of 1753 metres (5,751.3 ft). The northern slope of Abantos lies in the Cuelgamuros valley.A small part of the wast side of the mountain lies in the province of Ávila (Castilla y León).
The mountain has a smooth contour, and almost all of its slope is covered by pine trees, some of them repopulated. On the wast side of Abantos is the port of Malagon, one of the toughest mountain stages of the Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
(Tour of Spain).
Etymology
Mount Abantos takes its name from abanto, a name for various species of vultures such as the black vultureBlack vulture
Black vulture may refer to:* American Black Vulture* Eurasian Black Vulture...
, the red buzzard, the griffon vulture
Griffon Vulture
The Griffon Vulture is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.The Griffon Vulture is long with a wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh and females typically weigh , while in the Indian subspecies the vultures average...
or African vulture
Old World vulture
Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, buzzards, kites, and hawks.Old World vultures are not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures and condors, and do not share that group's good sense of smell. The similarities between the two...
, which can sometimes be seen flying on the mountain. During the reign of King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, the mountain was also known as Buen Monte del Oso (lit. Good Bear Mountain) because of the abundance of big game species. At the top of Abantos is a weather station and an yellow electromagnetic signal reflector panel.
Natural Protection
Abantos is protected by the Community of Madrid, through its inclusion in Paraje Pintoresco del Pinar de Abantos y Zona de La Herrería, a natural reserve.History
In the 16th century, King Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
chose a site on the southern side of Abantos as the site of the Monastery of El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
. In the 18th century, the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was founded. San Lorenzo de El Escorial is now an urban community with a population of over 17,000. On the mountain's northern side is another monument of historical and artistic interest, Valle de los Caídos ("Valley of the Fallen"). This monument was erected at Cuelgamuros Valley in the 20th century. The monument was conceived by then-dictator Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
as a memorial to those who died during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
On 21 August 1999, a forest fire began on the east side of Abantos, charring over 450 hectares of pine forest. The burned area has since been repopulated with pine trees.
The routes for many Vueltas a España have passed through Abantos, and the mountain has been the final stage for the race on numerous occasions