Sierra de la Culebra
Encyclopedia
The Sierra de la Culebra, , is a mountain range in north west Spain
(Castilla y Leon
) and northeastern Portugal
. It lies 7 km south of Puebla de Sanabria
in the comarcas of Aliste, Sanabria
and La Carballeda
(Zamora Province), as well as Vinhais
and Bragança municipalities in the District of Bragança. Its highest point is 1243 metres (4,078.1 ft) high Peña Mira, located near Flechas
, within Figueruela de Arriba
municipal term; other important peaks are Miño Cuevo 1211 metres (3,973.1 ft) and Campanario 1020 metres (3,346.5 ft).
The Sierra de la Culebra is a 95 km long regular mountain chain of medium height, forming a natural border with the Portuguese region of Tras os Montes
on its western end. Its slopes are wooded, occasionally ravaged by forest fires. There are odd-looking rocky outcrops on the summits of the range, that are often covered with snow
in the winter.
Among the rivers in Spain and Portugal having their source in Sierra de la Culebra, the Castro River, Tera, Tuella, Sabor and Maçãs (Manzanas), deserve mention.
These mountains are famous as one of the few remaining strongholds of the Iberian Wolf
.
. The western prolongations of Serra de Montezinho or Maciço de Montesinho, Sierra de la Gamoneda and Sierra del Marabón are part of the Sierra de la Culebra mountainous system. One important feature is the Rock of the Three Kingdoms
dividing three ancient Iberian kingdoms in the Serra de Marabón subrange. Other subranges are Sierra de las Cavernas, Sierra de los Catadores and Sierra de las Carbas, located on the Spanish side.
.
The Reserva de Caza de la Sierra de la Culebra, is a national hunting forest reserve on the Spanish side. Controversially, the wolves are protected in the reserve in order that they may be shot by sportsmen on payment of a fee of several thousand Euros. This process is defended on the grounds that it helps pay for the upkeep of the reserve and thus the protection of the species as a whole. The number of wolves authorised for hunting each year in Spain is strictly controlled, the auction being carried out in Villardeciervos
, but many more are shot illegally.
In the Sierra de la Culebra reserve, wolves may occasionally be observed when attracted to a bait-station, known locally as a Muladar, where remains of dead horses and donkeys are put out for them.
On the Sierra de la Culebra reserve there is a healthy population of the wolves' main prey species - Roe Deer
, Red Deer
and Wild Boar. The presence of the carcasses put out for the wolves also attracts spectacular raptors such as the Griffon Vulture
.
There are also small colonies of Vipera latastei
and Coronella austriaca, which perhaps gave the mountains their name.
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...
(Castilla y Leon
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
) and northeastern Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. It lies 7 km south of Puebla de Sanabria
Puebla de Sanabria
Puebla de Sanabria is a small town located in the north-eastern part of the province of Zamora in Spain, between the rivers Tera and Castro.It is the economic and political centre of the comarca of Sanabria.-History:...
in the comarcas of Aliste, Sanabria
Sanabria
Sanabria may refer to:*Sanabria - genus of bush crickets or katydids in the family Tettigoniidae subfamily Phaneropterinae* Sanabria or Senabria, a comarca in the province of Zamora, Spain...
and La Carballeda
La Carballeda
La Carballeda is a comarca located in the northwest of the province of Zamora, Castilla y León, western Spain. Its area is 1,216.54 km².Despite of the strong identity of its inhabitants, this historical region has not been able to achieve the necessary legal recognition for its administrative...
(Zamora Province), as well as Vinhais
Vinhais
Vinhais is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 694.9 km² and a total population of 10,051 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 35 parishes and is located in the district of Bragança....
and Bragança municipalities in the District of Bragança. Its highest point is 1243 metres (4,078.1 ft) high Peña Mira, located near Flechas
Flechas
Flechas were a Portuguese special forces unit created during the Portuguese Colonial War. Flechas were platoon-sized units consisting of local tribesmen and rebel defectors who specialised in tracking, reconnaissance and pseudo-terrorist operations...
, within Figueruela de Arriba
Figueruela de Arriba
Figueruela de Arriba is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2009 census , the municipality has a population of 423 inhabitants....
municipal term; other important peaks are Miño Cuevo 1211 metres (3,973.1 ft) and Campanario 1020 metres (3,346.5 ft).
The Sierra de la Culebra is a 95 km long regular mountain chain of medium height, forming a natural border with the Portuguese region of Tras os Montes
Trás-os-Montes (region)
Trás-os-Montes was one of the 13 regions of continental Portugal identified by geographer Amorim Girão, in a study published between 1927 and 1930.Together with Alto Douro it formed Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province.- See also :...
on its western end. Its slopes are wooded, occasionally ravaged by forest fires. There are odd-looking rocky outcrops on the summits of the range, that are often 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.
Among the rivers in Spain and Portugal having their source in Sierra de la Culebra, the Castro River, Tera, Tuella, Sabor and Maçãs (Manzanas), deserve mention.
These mountains are famous as one of the few remaining strongholds of the Iberian Wolf
Iberian Wolf
The Iberian wolf is a subspecies of grey wolf that inhabits the forest and plains of northern Portugal and northwestern Spain.-Features and adaptations:...
.
Subranges
The Sierra de la Culebra is located at the southern fringes of the broader Cantabrian MountainsCantabrian Mountains
The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.They extend for more than approximately 180 miles across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the edges of the Galician Massif close to Galicia, along the coast of the...
. The western prolongations of Serra de Montezinho or Maciço de Montesinho, Sierra de la Gamoneda and Sierra del Marabón are part of the Sierra de la Culebra mountainous system. One important feature is the Rock of the Three Kingdoms
Rock of the Three Kingdoms
The Rock of the Three Kingdoms , known also as Fragua dos Tres Reinos in Galicia, is a rocky formation of 1025 meter of altitude in the Sierra del Marabón, part of the mountainous system of Sierra de la Culebra , that was the former tripoint between the three ancient medieval kingdoms of Portugal,...
dividing three ancient Iberian kingdoms in the Serra de Marabón subrange. Other subranges are Sierra de las Cavernas, Sierra de los Catadores and Sierra de las Carbas, located on the Spanish side.
Natural reserves
On the Portuguese side the area of the Sierra de la Culebra range is included in the Montesinho Natural ParkMontesinho Natural Park
The Montesinho Natural Park is a protected area located in the municipalities of Vinhais and Bragança, northeastern Portugal. Sections of the southern slopes of the Serra da Coroa fall within the park....
.
The Reserva de Caza de la Sierra de la Culebra, is a national hunting forest reserve on the Spanish side. Controversially, the wolves are protected in the reserve in order that they may be shot by sportsmen on payment of a fee of several thousand Euros. This process is defended on the grounds that it helps pay for the upkeep of the reserve and thus the protection of the species as a whole. The number of wolves authorised for hunting each year in Spain is strictly controlled, the auction being carried out in Villardeciervos
Villardeciervos
Villardeciervos is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 515 inhabitants .-See also:*La Carballeda*Sierra de la Culebra...
, but many more are shot illegally.
In the Sierra de la Culebra reserve, wolves may occasionally be observed when attracted to a bait-station, known locally as a Muladar, where remains of dead horses and donkeys are put out for them.
On the Sierra de la Culebra reserve there is a healthy population of the wolves' main prey species - Roe Deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
, Red Deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
and Wild Boar. The presence of the carcasses put out for the wolves also attracts spectacular raptors such as 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...
.
There are also small colonies of Vipera latastei
Vipera latastei
Vipera latastei is a venomous viper species found in extreme southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
and Coronella austriaca, which perhaps gave the mountains their name.