270 Prof. Hausniann 07i the Geographical Characters 



the contrary, are separated from each other by transverse val- 

 leys. In the continuation of this coast chain, we have, to the 

 south-west of Malaga, the Sierra de Mijas and the Sierra Ber- 

 meja, which range towards the Sierra de Ronda, which extend 

 their arms towards the most southern extremity of Spain. 



When we take a general view of these different principal 

 mountain chains of Spain, and at the same time attend to the 

 prolongation of the middle ones into Portugal, it follows, that 

 the more southerly they are, the shorter is their course. It 

 further appears, that there is connected with this a southerly 

 curvature of the extreme branches ; with these is connected the 

 turnino- of the rivers from their principal direction as they ap- 

 proach to the sea. This is least considerable with the Tagus, 

 but most considerable with the Guadiana and Guadalquiver. 

 These rivers do not break across the mountain chains, as is the 

 case with the smaller streams which belong to the Sierra Neva- 

 da, in order to reach the sea by the shortest course : on the 

 contrary, they continue true to the course of the accompanying 

 mountain chains to their estuary. As the general figure of the 

 Iberian Peninsula is explained from the relations of its chains of 

 mountains, in the same way, but in a more striking manner, 

 can be explained the south coast of Spain, from Gibraltar to 

 Cabo de Gata. 



Besides the principal mountain chains already mentioned, 

 there are many others of lesser extent and elevation, which do 

 not belong to these. Many of these have an effect on the for- 

 mation of those situated on the eastern acclivity of the Iberian 

 peninsula, on the figure of the sea-coast, and on the rivers that 

 flow on this coast into the Mediterranean. Amongst these 

 mountain masses, the most considerable is that which rises south 

 from the Ebro, on the borders of Arragon, and Old and New 

 Castile, and the kingdom of Valentia, and which consists of 

 many ridges that run in different directions. The mountains 

 of Jaen, which separate the Valley of the Guadalquiver from 

 the high table land of Granada, is very striking. 



Spain is distinguished not only by the great number of its 

 considerable mountain masses, but also by its lofty tal/le lands, 

 which extend between the ranges of mountains, forming a strik- 

 ing contrast with the perpendicular or mural precipices which 



