Sierra de Cuera
Encyclopedia
Sierra de Cuera is a 30 km long mountain chain of the Cantabrian Mountains
.
The ridge's highest point is Pico Turbina (1315 m). This mountain range is located at 6 km from the sea and runs parallel to the coast. It lies within the Cabrales
, Llanes
, Peñamellera Alta
, Peñamellera Baja
and Ribadedeva
municipal terms.
(1936 - 1939) and the key to the Sierra de Cuera was the pass of El Mazuco
.
Following the fall of Bilbao
the troops supporting General Franco's rebellion tried to advance by clearing the Republican
defenders from these mountains. In order to do this they planned a pincer
movement moving south-west from Llanes and west, along the Río Cares, from Panes towards Cabrales.
On both fronts, however, the rugged terrain and the stiff resistance of the Republican loyalists halted the advance during what became known as the Battle of El Mazuco
.
These mountains were once one of the last refuges of the Iberian Wolf
, unfortunately the last one was killed in 2008.
Cantabrian Mountains
The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.They extend for more than approximately 180 miles across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the edges of the Galician Massif close to Galicia, along the coast of the...
.
The ridge's highest point is Pico Turbina (1315 m). This mountain range is located at 6 km from the sea and runs parallel to the coast. It lies within the Cabrales
Cabrales
Cabrales is a municipality in the autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. It is situated between the Sierra de Cuera and the Picos de Europa, and is a region famous for its Cabrales cheese....
, Llanes
Llanes
Llanes a municipality of the province of Asturias, in northern Spain. Stretching for about 30 km along the coast at the extreme east of the province, Llanes is bounded to the south by the high ridge of the limestone Sierra del Cuera, which rises to over 1,100 m...
, Peñamellera Alta
Peñamellera Alta
Peñamellera Alta is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Llanes, on the west by Cabrales, on the east by Peñamellera Baja and on the south by the Autonomous Community of Cantabria....
, Peñamellera Baja
Peñamellera Baja
Peñamellera Baja is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is borderered on the north by Llanes and Ribadedeva, to the west by Peñamellera Alta, and to the east and south by the Autonomous Community of Cantabria....
and Ribadedeva
Ribadedeva
Ribadedeva is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. To the north is the Cantabrian Sea, while to the south lies Peñamellera Baja, to the west Llanes and to the east, across the Deva River, the Autonomous Community of...
municipal terms.
Recent history
The mountains of the Sierra de Cuera were vital to the defence of Asturias during the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
(1936 - 1939) and the key to the Sierra de Cuera was the pass of El Mazuco
El Mazuco
El Mazuco is a village in the parroquia of Caldueñu in the municipality of Llanes, in Asturias, northern Spain. Its population in 2004 was 67, in 25 dwellings....
.
Following the fall of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
the troops supporting General Franco's rebellion tried to advance by clearing the Republican
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
defenders from these mountains. In order to do this they planned a pincer
Pincer
Pincer may refer to:*Pincer *Pincer , part of an animal*Pincer ligand, a terdentate, often planar molecule that tightly binds a variety of metal ions.*Pingas...
movement moving south-west from Llanes and west, along the Río Cares, from Panes towards Cabrales.
On both fronts, however, the rugged terrain and the stiff resistance of the Republican loyalists halted the advance during what became known as the Battle of El Mazuco
Battle of El Mazuco
The Battle of El Mazuco was fought between 6 and 22 September 1937, between the Republican and Nationalist armies during the Spanish Civil War as a part of the War in the North campaign. The Republican defence of El Mazuco and the surrounding mountains halted the Nationalist advance into eastern...
.
These mountains were once one of the last refuges of the Iberian Wolf
Iberian Wolf
The Iberian wolf is a subspecies of grey wolf that inhabits the forest and plains of northern Portugal and northwestern Spain.-Features and adaptations:...
, unfortunately the last one was killed in 2008.
