Mount Pindo Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Pindo
Celtic Olympus

Highest point
Elevation	627 m (2,057 ft)
Geography
Pindo Location in Galicia Show map of Galicia Pindo Location in Spain Show map of Spain

Mount Pindo (also known as Monte Pindo in Galician) is a special mountain in Galicia, Spain. It stands 627 meters (about 2,057 feet) tall and is made of strong granite rock. People often call it the 'Celtic Olympus' because it's famous for many old stories and legends.

Mount Pindo is located in the Carnota area, right on the Atlantic coast. It's a very important natural spot.

Natural Environment
A Look into History
What's in a Name?
Myths and Legends
Images for kids
See also

Natural Environment

Mount Pindo is part of a protected area called Natura 2000. This special area is known as Monte Pindo and Carnota. It covers a large space of about 4,674 hectares (over 11,500 acres).

Many rare and interesting animals live here. You might find otters, different kinds of bats, and special birds. These birds include the black-throated loon and the fast peregrine falcon. Local environmental groups are working hard to make this whole area a full nature park.

Sadly, in 2013, a big wildfire happened at Monte Pindo. It burned more than 1,600 hectares (almost 4,000 acres) of forest.

A Look into History

People have lived around Mount Pindo for a very long time. We know this because scientists have found old pottery from about 6,000 years ago.

The Castle of St. George

Around the 10th century, a bishop named Sisnando ordered a castle to be built. This castle, called the Castle of St. George, was on the slopes of Mount Pindo. Its job was to protect the area from attacks coming from the sea.

Different noble families lived in the castle over the years. But in 1467, during a war called the Irmandiñas Revolutions, the castle was destroyed. After that, people looking for treasure broke down the remaining walls.

Legends and Ancient Sites

Mount Pindo has many unique granite rocks and shapes. These shapes have inspired lots of stories and legends. People told tales about gods, giants, and mythical monsters. One famous legend is about the Xallas River, which forms the Ézaro waterfall directly into the sea.

Many old things have been found here, like ancient rock carvings called petroglyphs. There are also remains of what might have been an old hermitage, a small place where a religious person lived alone.

Other Forts and Refuges

There might have been two other castles on the mountain, but not much is left of them. One old stone has a Latin message that talks about kings and bishops excommunicating someone. This refers to a time in 1130 when an archbishop punished a count who had imprisoned someone important.

Another fort was called Peñafiel. This area also had old hermitages, wells, and paths. During the Spanish Civil War, Mount Pindo was used as a safe place for people to hide from danger.

What's in a Name?

The name Pindo likely comes from an old Celtic language. It probably means "dark mountain" or "dark top." In old Celtic languages like Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic, words like binn or beinn mean "peak" or "mountain top." The word dubh means "dark." So, "Binn Dubh" (Pindub) could have become Pindo.

There are other mountains in Ireland and Scotland that look similar to Mount Pindo and have similar names. This suggests a shared history with Celtic languages.

Myths and Legends

Mount Pindo is seen as a very mythical and magical place. Many legends are connected to the Celts, who lived in this area long ago. Some people say the mountain was like their Mount Olympus, where they performed special ceremonies.

The rich nature of the mountain also made people connect it to fertility. Because of this, couples who wanted to have more children would sometimes make pilgrimages to the mountain.

Some caves in the area are believed to be home to mouros. These are supernatural beings from local folklore who are said to live underground.