446 
SPAT N; 
and surrounded by fearful precipices, at the elevation of 1562 
Spanish yards above the sea. This is one of the highest 
spots in the peninsula; the Tagus, the Xucar, and the Cabriel, 
take their rise among these mountains, and divide the waters 
which flow from their sides, between the Atlantic and the 
Mediterranean. Numerous flocks of sheep, both itinerant 
and stationary, find, in the valleys formed by this chain, the 
most abundant summer pastures. 
From Albarracin, this chain strikes into the territory of 
Cuen 9 a in a direction nearly north and south. It then sends 
off a branch to the east-south-east, on which the Collado de 
la Plata, or Silver Hill, rises 1598 yards above the sea. It 
contains a quicksilver mine, which was worked a few years 
ago, at the distance of four leagues west of Teruel. From 
the neighbourhood of this town the Sierra de Espadan runs, 
like an unbroken bulwark, to the sea near Murviedro, in a 
direction between south-east and north-west. The rugged¬ 
ness of the hills, the terrific depth of the precipices, and the 
intricacy of the mountain passes, overhung with perpendi¬ 
cular rocks of black marble, afe described in glowing colours 
by the great Spanish botanist, Cavanilles, whose account of a 
scientific tour in these highlands of his native province, 
Valencia, is quoted by Antillon. The Pico, which is con¬ 
sidered the most elevated point in these mountains, rises 
1303 yards above the sea. Its latitude has been determined 
by accurate observations to be 39° 31' 38". Its longitude 
3° 0' 36" east of the meridian of Madrid. 
Near the source of the Tagus, the Iberian ridge sends off 
another branch which, stretching in almost a southern direc¬ 
tion, separates La Mancha from the province of Murcia, to 
the west of the town of Albacete, and rises into the lofty 
mountains of Alcarez and Segura (the ancient Orospeda), 
dividing the waters between the Guadalquivir and the 
Segurra, the two main streams which severally and finally 
convey them to the ocean and the Mediterranean. One of 
the two great limbs which terminate the Iberian ridge runs 
into the sea at the Cape Cervera; the other, bending to fhe 
south, skirts the kingdom of Granada, and disappears at the 
Cape Gata. To the latter belongs the mountain called 
Cabezo de Maria, between Carthagena and Cape Gata, one 
league west of the town of Vera on the coast of Valencia. It 
rises 2287 yards above the sea, and has its summit covered 
with snow during one-half of the year. 
Smaller branches of this chain project between the Turia 
and the Cabriel, which loses itself in the Xucar at Cofron- 
tes. A ridge runs between the last-mentioned river and 
Alcoy, another stream, which flows into the sea near Gan- 
dia. A minor chain separates the Alcoy and the mouth of 
the Segura. The province of Valencia is, in fact, divided by 
mountains into most fertile stripes, watered by numerous 
streams, and enjoying every blessing which nature grants to 
the most favoured climates. The mountains on the right of 
the Xucar, from Cofrentes to the sea, bear the two appella¬ 
tions of Cortes de Pallas and Millares, each applying to a 
different portion of the ridge. To the left of the same river, 
the mountains are known by the names of Torres and Dos 
Aguas, which they change for that of Monte Caballon when 
they penetrate into Valencia from the province of Cuenca. 
The rock on which the castle of Monserrate stands, near 
the sea-shore, five leagues west of the lake Albufera, may be 
considered as belonging to this ridge. The castle is 313 
yards above the sea. From the mountains of Millares to the 
right of the Xucar, another ramification projects between the 
provinces of Murcia and Valencia. Before reaching Villena 
it bends towards the sea, on the left of the Alcoy, where it is 
known by the name of Sierra de Mariola. The number, 
purity, and copiousness of the streams, which are fed by 
these hills, render them the main source of wealth and com¬ 
fort to the neighbouring country. The highest summit of 
this ridge is called Moncabrer. Another arm stretches from 
Villena, in which we find the Sierra de Viar, the rock of 
Xixona, the mountain of Aytana, and the pyramidical moun¬ 
tain of Mongo, near the Capes San Antonio and Martin. 
The longer duration of snow on its top makes Cavanilles 
believe that it surpasses Moncabrer in height, especially as 
the latter is at a greater distance from the sea. The southern¬ 
most part of the chain, which strikes off at Villena, sends out 
its waters to swell the stream of the Segura. 
A great ridge divides the waters between the Duero and 
the Tagus. It grows out of the Iberian chain, not far from 
the sources of the Xalon and the Tajuna, to the south of the 
city of Soria, and the site of the ancient Numantia. 
We have next to notice the ridge which divides the waters 
between the Tagus and the Guadiana. The rise of this 
branch out of the Iberian chain would hardly be perceptible, 
but for the separation of the waters, which begins in the 
vicinity of Huete, south of Cuenca. The gradual elevation 
of the ground from Tarancon to Tembleque, in the province 
of Toledo, raises the latter town 740 yards above the sea. 
Bolder hills appear at Madrilejos ; and the town of Consue- 
gra has an elevation of 769 yards. Proceeding a short dis¬ 
tance to the south-west, the Sierra de Yevenes clearly shows 
the direction of the ridge, which is soon after known by the 
name of Guadalupe (Montes Carpetani); it then runs be¬ 
tween Truxillo and Merida, under the name of Sierra de 
Marchal, penetrates into Portugal by Castel de Vide and 
Portoalegre, is seen to the west of Elvas and Estremoz, and 
descends to Cape Espichel, having Beja and Setubal to the 
south, E'vora and the mouth of the Tagus to the north. 
The third great branch of the Iberian ridge is the Sierra 
Morena (Montes Mariam), which divides the waters 
between the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. It begins in 
the vicinity of Alcaraz, near the eastern limits of the pro- 
vinces of La Mancha, issuing from that spur of the Iberian 
chain which terminates in Cape Palos, and, stretching in a 
direction north-east and south-west, with La Mancha, 
Spanish Estremadura, to the north, and Jaen, Cordoba, 
Seville and Algarve (Portugal), to the south, ends in the 
ocean at Cape St. Vincent. 
Rivers .—In describing the principal chains of the Spanish 
mountains, we have already mentioned the five great streams 
which water the intermediate plains, the Mino, the Ebro, 
the Duero, the Tagus, the Guadiana, and the Guadalquivir. 
The Mino, or Minho (Minius or Bcenis), rises in Ga¬ 
licia, in the district of Lugo, from a beautiful spring called 
Fuente Mina. This river is navigable only to Salvatierra, 
two leagues above Tuy. 
The Ebro rises near Reynosa, out of so copious a spring, 
that it works a corn-mill a few steps from its source. 
After a course of 110 leagues, it flows into the Mediterranean 
at Alfaques. From the boundaries of Navarre to the sea, 
the Ebro makes a progress of 1° 12' 42" towards the south. 
The chief towns on this stream are Logrono and Calahorra, 
in the province of Rioja; Tudela, in Navarre; Zaragoza, in 
Arragon; and Tortosa, in Catalonia. It is a misfortune for 
Spain that this great river presents strong obstacles to navi¬ 
gation, both in its course and where it joins the sea. 
The Duero, or Douro, has its source to the north of the 
city of Osma, in a deep lake, at the summit of that portion 
of the neighbouring chain of mountains which has been men¬ 
tioned by the name of Sierras de Urbion. Its course is at 
first towards the south, passing by Garay and Soria, where 
it turns to the west, continuing in that direction till it reaches 
Miranda. From this town to Moncorvo the river falls again 
into a south direction. It lastly takes a decided course to the 
ocean, where it ends near Oporto, having traversed a distance 
of 150 leagues. The Duero advances 10' to the south from 
Aranda to Tordesillas; from hence to Miranda it inclines 
40' to the north. Its mouth lies 33' 45" south of Miranda. 
This river is navigable up to the tower of Moncorvo, a space 
of thirty leagues. , 
An inconsiderable spring, denominated Pie Izquierdo, is 
the source of the majestic Tagus. In its course through the 
province of Cuen§a it is considerably augmented by the 
contributions of several streams. Before its waters reach 
Aranjeuz, they surmount the rocky edge of its native moun¬ 
tain, and, dashing upon the plain beneath, sink into a pool 
of great depth, called Olla de Borlaque. The Tagus, now 
running placidly through the plains of Zorita and the royal 
gardens of Aranjeuz, at the elevation of 621 yards above the 
sea, 
