Pico San Millán
| Pico San Millán | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,131 m (6,991 ft) |
| Prominence | 319 m (1,047 ft) |
| Coordinates | 42°13′54″N 03°12′23″W / 42.23167°N 3.20639°W |
| Naming | |
| English translation | San Millan Peak |
| Language of name | Spanish |
| Geography | |
Pico San Millán Spain Pico San Millán Pico San Millán (Spain) | |
| Location | Pineda de la Sierra, Santa Cruz del Valle Urbión and Barbadillo de Herreros, Burgos, Spain |
| Parent range | Sierra de la Demanda |
Pico San Millán, also known as El Torruco, is the highest mountain in the province of Burgos (Castile and León, Spain), rising 2,131 metres (6991.47 feet).[1] It is located in the Sierra de la Demanda mountain range, the northwesternmost end of the Iberian System.[2]
The usual climbing starting points are the localities of Santa Cruz del Valle Urbión (3 hours 45 min.) and Pineda de la Sierra (3 hours).[1]
Geography
Pico San Millán is one of the highest summits in the Sierra de la Demanda. It is an ancient Paleozoic mountain shaped by long erosion and glacial activity during the Würm glaciation, approximately 10,000 years ago. Its northern slope features a small glacial cirque with a seasonal small lake,[3] moraines, and rugged terrain composed of Cambrian slates and meta-sandstones.[4] The mountain serves as a watershed between the Ebro River basin to the north (Mediterranean basin) and the Douro River basin to the south (Atlantic basin). Its slopes feed several rivers, including the Arlanzón, Morales, and Urbión, with the notable Altuzarra waterfalls on its northern face.[5] In addition to San Millán, prominent nearby peaks include Trigaza (2,085 m, 6,841 ft) and Cabeza Aguilez (2,029 m, 6,657 ft), while Monte San Lorenzo (2,271 m, 7,451 ft) is situated at a greater distance in La Rioja. The mountain and much of its surrounding range are included in and protected by the Special Protection Area and the Natural Space of the Sierra de la Demanda.[6][7]
See also
References
- ^ a b Urrutia, Javier. "Mendikat → San Millán (2131 m)". www.mendikat.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ Sanz, Gonzalo Mateo; Alonso, José Luis Benito (2012-12-18). Flora Montiberica, 53 (in Spanish). José Luis Benito Alonso.
- ^ "Laguna de San Millán" [Lake of San Millán]. www.google.com. Retrieved 2025-06-14.
- ^ del Rivero, Enrique (2001). Rincones singulares de Burgos V. El norte de la Sierra de la Demanda (in Spanish). Burgos: Fundación Caja de Burgos. ISBN 84-87152-64-3.
- ^ "Cascadas de Altuzarra" [Waterfalls of Altuzarra]. www.google.com. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ Naturaspain. "Zepa de Sierra de la Demanda, Sierra de la Demanda, CASTILLA Y LEON, superficie del zepa Sierra de la Demanda". Naturaspain (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ "Sierra de la Demanda | Excma. Diputacion Provincial de Burgos". www.burgos.es. Retrieved 2025-06-13.