Matanza de los Oteros facts for kids
Matanza de los Oteros is a small town in the province of León, Spain. It covers an area of about 20.69 square miles (53.58 km²). In 2017, only 179 people lived there. The town is located about 28.58 miles (46 km) south of León, the capital city of the province.
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Exploring the Geography of Matanza
Matanza de los Oteros is located about 0.51 miles (825 meters) above sea level. It sits on a flat area known as the Leonese cereal plateau. This region is called Oteros del Rey.
Land and Water Features
The land here is mostly flat. However, you will find small hills and buttes scattered around. Between these hills are small valleys called thalwegs. These valleys are often more humid than the wide, flat plains.
The Raneros stream is an important water source for the area. This stream flows into the Cea river. It runs through a valley known as the Toro valley.
Protected Natural Areas
Matanza de los Oteros is part of two special protected areas. One is the Oteros-Campos ZEPA. ZEPA stands for "Zona de especial protección para las aves," which means "Special Protection Zone for Birds." This area helps protect many different bird species.
The other protected area is the Lagunas de los Oteros LIC. LIC means "Lugares de importancia comunitaria," or "Site of Community Importance." These areas are important for protecting different types of habitats and wildlife.
A Look into the History of Matanza
The early history of Matanza de los Oteros is not very clear. We know more about it starting from the time of Alfonso III of Asturias. During his rule, people from different places came to live here. These included Asturians, Franks, and Mozarabs.
The Name's Origin
The name Matanza de los Oteros might come from an old battle. In 878, the Emir of Córdoba, Muhammad I, led an army to attack the Kingdom of León. King Alfonso III met him in battle near what is now Santa Cristina de la Polvorosa. Alfonso III won the battle.
The Cordoban army ran away, and the Asturian soldiers chased them. The story says that so many people were killed that the area was named "Slaughter of the Hills" (Matanza de los Oteros). However, some experts think the name might just be a change of "mata ancha," which means "broad bushes."
See also
In Spanish: Matanza de los Oteros para niños
