Sierra de Hoyo de Manzanares
Mountain chain in Spain / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sierra de Hoyo or Sierra de Hoyo de Manzanares is a mountain chain located in the northwest of the Community of Madrid (Spain), near the Sierra de Guadarrama. Geologically it belongs to this mountainous formation, but there is a flat separation of about ten kilometers between the two. Its main municipality of reference is Hoyo de Manzanares, located on its southern slope, from which it takes its name.
Sierra de Hoyo de Manzanares | |
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Highest point | |
Peak | El Estepar (1402,840 meters above sea level) |
Coordinates | 40.633333°N 3.933333°W / 40.633333; -3.933333 |
Dimensions | |
Length | 9 km (5.6 mi) |
Width | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
Area | 14 km2 (5.4 sq mi) |
Geography | |
Location | Community of Madrid |
Country | Spain |
Parent range | Sierra de Guadarrama, (Sistema Central) |
The entire sierra is within the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park, a protected area that also includes La Pedriza with the Santillana reservoir, reaching south to the municipality of Las Rozas de Madrid and encompassing the Soto de Viñuelas next to Tres Cantos. The park receives different levels of protection, among them, the Educational Natural Reserve, the second highest granted by this park. This legal figure protects a good part of its southern and eastern slopes. In addition, on February 15, 1993, the territory was declared a Biosphere Reserve.[1] The highest peak in the Sierra de Hoyo is El Estepar, at 1402.840 meters.[2]
There are several roads leading to the vicinity of this sierra. One of the most direct ways of access is to take the Northwest highway from Madrid to exit 27, Torrelodones M-618 Hoyo de Manzanares, where the M-618 road ends, km 24, which passes through Hoyo de Manzanares, starting in Colmenar Viejo.
The Sierra de Hoyo is visible from a great distance. Its most recognized image is usually its southern elevation, which it offers towards the capital of Spain.