Sierra de Guara
Encyclopedia
The Sierra de Guara is a mountain massif in the province
of Huesca
, the most northerly province in the autonomous community
of Aragon
, Spain
. Its highest point is Tozal de Guara (2,077 m).
It lies around 25km northeast of the city of Huesca itself. Much of the massif is now included within a natural park known as the Parque de la Sierra y Cañones de Guara which extends 43km from west to east and 25km north to south. The Park includes, in addition to the Sierra de Guara itself, much of the Sierra de Gabardiella in the west and the Sierra de Arangol, Sierra de Balced, Sierra de Sebil and Sierra de Rufás in the east.
.
and, on its southern edge, an overlying coarse sandstone of Miocene
age which is largely conglomeratic
.
and Rodellar have been reinvigorated in recent years by tourist development
. To the northeast, outside of the natural park lies the historic city of Ainsa
and to the south is Barbastro
.
in its many gorges. Rock climbing
and caving
are also practised whilst others enjoy walking and wildlife-watching.
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of Huesca
Huesca
Huesca is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the comarca of Hoya de Huesca....
, the most northerly province in the autonomous community
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Its highest point is Tozal de Guara (2,077 m).
It lies around 25km northeast of the city of Huesca itself. Much of the massif is now included within a natural park known as the Parque de la Sierra y Cañones de Guara which extends 43km from west to east and 25km north to south. The Park includes, in addition to the Sierra de Guara itself, much of the Sierra de Gabardiella in the west and the Sierra de Arangol, Sierra de Balced, Sierra de Sebil and Sierra de Rufás in the east.
Landscape features
A number of rivers flow north-south through the area, the principal ones having their sources to the north of the massif and cutting through the massif by way of spectacular gorges such as those of the Rio Alcanadre, Rio Guatizalema, Rio Vero and Rio Isuala. Each of these rivers ultimately drain into the EbroEbro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
.
Geology
The massif is formed mainly from Palaeogene limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and, on its southern edge, an overlying coarse sandstone of Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
age which is largely conglomeratic
Conglomerate (geology)
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments and are thus differentiated from breccias, which consist of angular clasts...
.
Towns and villages
The area is sparsely populated with a number of abandoned villages within its interior. The villages of AlquézarAlquézar
Alquézar is a municipality in the province of Huesca, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. In 2004, it had a population of 309.Situated on a limestone outcrop of Eocene age to the west of the canyon of the Rio Vero river in the Sierra de Guara national park, the village has grown around a...
and Rodellar have been reinvigorated in recent years by tourist development
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. To the northeast, outside of the natural park lies the historic city of Ainsa
Ainsa
Ainsa, Aínsa is the main town in the Aínsa-Sobrarbe municipal term, Aragon, Spain.It is located south of the Pyrenees, in a geologically interesting setting...
and to the south is Barbastro
Barbastro
Barbastro is a city in the Somontano county, province of Huesca, Spain...
.
Sport and recreation
The area has become known in recent years for the considerable opportunities for canyoningCanyoning
Canyoning is traveling in canyons using a variety of techniques that may include other outdoor activities such as walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and/or swimming....
in its many gorges. Rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
and caving
Caving
Caving—also occasionally known as spelunking in the United States and potholing in the United Kingdom—is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems...
are also practised whilst others enjoy walking and wildlife-watching.