The Montes de Toledo is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the
Iberian Peninsula. They divide the
drainage basin of the
Tagus from the basin of the
Guadiana. The highest peak is
La Villuerca, which is 1,603 m (5,259 ft) high.[1]
Description
The Montes de Toledo are located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, cutting transversally from east to west across the lower portion of the
Meseta Central. The length of the Montes de Toledo is 350 km (220 mi) and their maximum width up to 100 km (62 mi) near
Sonseca and
Puertollano.
The eastern Montes de Toledo ranges form one of the natural limits of the historical
La Mancha region in
Castile-La Mancha and the western end, including the ranges forming the broader Montes de Toledo, reaches into
Portalegre District,
Portugal.[2]
The Montes de Toledo are divided in the following
physiographic longitudinal sectors or zones:
The Montes de Toledo in a strict sense are located in the eastern section of the system, in northwestern
Ciudad Real Province and southwestern
Toledo Province, giving its name to the
Montes de Toledo Comarca. Despite its name this comarca only includes a small part of the range.[5] The main summits of this region are
Rocigalgo (1,447 m (4,747 ft)),
Corral de Cantos (1,421 m (4,662 ft)), Peñafiel (1,319 m (4,327 ft)) and Amor (1379).
Sierra de Villuercas, also known as Sierra de Guadalupe, it rises within Extremadura in
Las Villuercas comarca,
province of Cáceres. This range is where the highest altitudes of the whole system are found. Besides 1,603 m (5,259 ft) high
La Villuerca, the highest peaks are
Carbonero (1,428 m (4,685 ft)), Ballesteros (1,342 m (4,403 ft)), Sobacorbas (1,320 m (4,330 ft)) and Risco Redondo (1,287 m (4,222 ft)).[9]
Sierra de Montánchez, located in the central/southern region of Cáceres Province. Its highest point is 995 m (3,264 ft) high
Monte Viejo. Other notable summits are
Cancho Blanco (955 m (3,133 ft)) and Alijares (786 m (2,579 ft)).[10]
Sierra de San Pedro, between Cáceres and
Badajoz provinces. Its highest peaks are
Torrico de San Pedro (702 m (2,303 ft)), Atalaya (624 m (2,047 ft)), Chorlo (624 m (2,047 ft)), Morrón del Cotarro (615 m (2,018 ft)) and Manzano (610 m (2,000 ft)). The
Sierra de Carbajo, also known as Sierra de Santiago is a small range located north of the western end of Sierra de San Pedro, above
Carbajo and
Santiago de Alcántara.[11]
Serra de São Mamede, located in the
Alto Alentejo Province,
Portugal, bordering Extremadura. Higher than the preceding two ranges, this range forms the western end of the greater Montes de Toledo. Its highest point is 1,025 m (3,363 ft) high
Pico de São Mamede. Other important peaks are Fria, Pico de Marvão and Castelo de Vide. The town of
Marvão is located on top of a ridge of the range.[12]
Main ranges and features
A
dehesa, traditional pastoral management in the Montes de Toledo
Montes de Toledo landscape in puerto de Los Santos (Ciudad Real) with the
Sierra de la Virgen on the right
^Julio Muñoz Jiménez, Los Montes de Toledo. Estudios de Geografía Física. Departamento de Geografía de la Universidad de Oviedo. Instituto J. S. Elcano (CSIC), Oviedo 1976