Cervantes, Lugo facts for kids
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Cervantes is a small area, or municipality, located in the Os Ancares region of Galicia, Spain. It is part of the Lugo province. In 2005, about 1,973 people lived there. The area covers about 277 square kilometers.
Cervantes is known for its tall mountains, especially Mustellar, which is 1,924 meters high. Until the mid-1900s, this part of Spain was very isolated. Many villages had no roads or electricity. Winter snow often cut them off completely. People lived in small, self-sufficient communities. You can still see this old way of life at the museum in Piornedo, which features a traditional round house called a palloza. Today, the main jobs in Cervantes are farming, forestry, and tourism.
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Geography of Cervantes
Cervantes is nestled within the natural beauty of the Ancares mountains in Lugo. This area has many impressive peaks.
Tall Mountains Nearby
Some of the highest points in the area include:
- Mustallar (1,924 meters)
- Miravalles (1,969 meters)
- Tres Bispos (1,793 meters)
- Pena Rubia (1,826 meters)
- Pico Cuiña (1,998 meters)
These mountains are part of larger mountain ranges. These include A Trappe, Lóuzara, O Oribio, O Rañadoiro, and O Piornal. Cervantes is also part of the Galician Navia region. This region includes other municipalities like Negueira de Muñiz, Navia, and As Nogais.
Amazing Plant Life
The mountains around Cervantes are home to a huge variety of plants. Out of all the plant species in Galicia, nearly 40% can be found in nearby areas like O Courel. The Ancares region itself has over 1,000 types of vascular plants and subspecies.
This area is especially rich in ferns. It has 33 different fern species, making it one of the best places in Spain to find them. Because the area is well-preserved, it has many forests with various trees. You can find oak, beech, yew, elm, hazel, holly, maple, birch, chestnut, and cherry trees here. Some very high peaks in Ancares are above the "forest limit." This means they are too high and cold for trees to grow, so only shrubs can survive there.
Wildlife in Cervantes
Cervantes is also home to many different animals. Out of all the reptiles and amphibians found in Spain, 27 species live in the Ancares region. These include various types of newts, frogs, lizards, and snakes.
Birdwatchers will enjoy the area too. Many songbirds live here, along with birds of prey. You might spot short-toed eagles, goshawks, hawks, buzzards, and hen harriers. Red and gray partridges are also common, and sometimes you can even see grouse.
History and Famous Connections
Some historians believe that the famous writer Miguel de Cervantes might have family roots in this land. The last name "Saavedra" appears in old records from a local church. This was a name Miguel de Cervantes later used, though it wasn't his birth name. However, many experts who study Cervantes think this idea is unlikely.
In his famous book, Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes mentions a character from "Somewhere in the mountains of León." This character talks about their family's good reputation in those small towns. This might be a small nod to the region.
See also
In Spanish: Cervantes (Lugo) para niños
