Serra dos Ancares facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Serra dos Ancares
Sierra de los Ancares
General view of the range
Highest point
Peak	Cuiña
Elevation	1,987 m (6,519 ft)
Dimensions
Length	95 km (59 mi) NE/SW
Width	32 km (20 mi) NW/SE
Geography
Serra dos Ancares Location in Spain
Location	Lugo Province, Galicia León Province, Castile and León
Country	Spain
Parent range	Galician Massif
Geology
Orogeny	Variscan orogeny
Age of rock	Ordovician
Type of rock	Slate, limestone, sandstone, quartzite

The Serra dos Ancares (also called Sierra de los Ancares in Spanish) is a beautiful mountain range in north-west Spain. It's part of the larger Galician Massif and stretches from the western part of the Cantabrian Mountains in Asturias.

Geography of the Ancares Mountains

This mountain range acts like a natural border between two areas of Spain: Galicia and Castile and León.

The tallest mountain here is Cuiña Peak, standing at 1,987 meters (about 6,519 feet) high! Other important peaks include Mustallar (1,935 meters) and Miravalles (1,969 meters). A smaller mountain range, the Serra do Courel, lies just south of the Ancares, running in the same direction.

Plants and Trees in Ancares

Near rivers and streams, you'll find trees like willow and European alder. Further away, there are chestnut, ash, common hazel, oak, and common holly trees. If you climb higher than 1,600 meters (about 5,250 feet), the trees become less common. Instead, you'll see brushland with plants like tree heath and juniper.

Traditional Buildings: Pallozas

For a long time, many small villages in this area were quite isolated. Roads were not built until the mid-1900s. A special type of building found here is called a palloza (or casa teito). These are old stone houses, usually round or oval-shaped, with unique roofs.

Ancares as a Protected Area

The Sierra de los Ancares is recognized for its important natural environment.

It is named a Site of Community Importance in the province of León. This means it's a special area for nature within Europe.

In 2006, a part of the region called Os Ancares Lucenses y Montes de Cervantes, Navia y Becerrea was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is a place where people try to balance nature conservation with human activities. There is also another biosphere reserve called Los Ancares Leoneses.

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  Serra dos Ancares (Lugo)

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  Serra dos Ancares (Lugo)

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  Serra dos Ancares (León)

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  Serra dos Ancares (León)

See also

In Spanish: Sierra de Ancares para niños

• Los Ancares
• Os Ancares