Sierra de Híjar


The Sierra de Híjar is a mountain range of the Cantabrian Mountains System, located in the Province of Palencia and the Autonomous Community of Cantabria in northern Spain.

Geography

The range is long, and runs in a west-northwest to east-southeast direction. The highest peaks in the range are concentrated in the northeastern to central section. From there the altitude declines. The rangehas a maximum width of, between Penaguda and Sel de la Fuente.
The range's highest point is at the peak of Cuchillón, although its exact altitude differs by source, including: according to the National Geographic Institute of Spain ; and according to Francisco Hernández-Pacheco and in other publications by the same National Geographic Institute.
This system marks the boundary between the regions of Campoo in Cantabria and La Pernia in Palencia of Castile and León. It is one of the southernmost foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains range, and the last to rise over in elevation.

Main peaks

The highest points are concentrated in the central sector, including Tres Mares and Cueto Manin. The northwestern sector contains the long spine of Peña Labra and an access point to the summit from Polaciones. The southeastern sector, extending from Sestil to Alto de Hoyos, is the lowest and is called the Cinto Brotherhood.
Name, altitudeCoordinatesNotes
Peña Labra, 2029 mAt this peak there is a triangulation station of the first order. It ends a characteristic plateau, which joins the Fuente del Chivo with a 2000 meter boundary.
Tres Mares, 2171 mThere is a terrace at the top that acts as a great viewpoint.
Las Hoyas, 2106 m
Cuchillón, 2174–2222 mHighest point in the range. It is also referred to as "Canchal de la Muela" and "Peña del Pando", or "Rock of Pando", due to the summit's flat shape.
Cotomañinos o Guzmerones, 2144 mThis point and the previous point form the glacial basin of Hoyo Sacro and Guzmerones.
Cueto Mañín, 2122 mPeña de las Agujas rises in this point's southern slope.
Valdecebollas, 2143 mA ridge to the south of the range's main line.
Sestil, 2065 mBetween this point and Cueto Manin lies Sel de la Fuente.
Peña Rubia, 1937 mForms the long crest that births Camesa.
Cuesta Labra, 1951 mOn its north side are the glacial basins of Bucer and Vitor. It binds to the east with Peña Ensillada towards Somahoz.

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Toponymy

According to cartographic studies by the National Geographic Institute of Spain and other works, the name "Peña Labra" is often used to refer to this system, especially as seen from the south side. From this perspective, the top of Peña Labra appears most prominently, though it is not the highest in the system. However, all previously existing mapping, including the first series of the National Geographic Institute, or those of Francisco Coello and Quesada and Pascual Madoz, refers to this mountain as "Sierra de Híjar."