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The Sierra Morena is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain. It stretches for 450 kilometres from east to west across the south of the Iberian Peninsula, forming the southern border of the ''Meseta Central'' plateau and providing the watershed between the valleys of the Guadiana to the north and the west, and the Guadalquivir to the south. Its highest summit is 1,332 m high Bañuela.〔(Mendikat - Bañuela ( 1.332 m ) )〕 Other notable peaks are Corral de Borros 1,312 m and Cerro de la Estrella 1,298 m. The name ''Sierra Morena'' has a strong legendary reputation in Spanish culture and tradition, with myths about bandits ''(Los bandidos de Sierra Morena)'', a giant snake ''(El Saetón de Sierra Morena)''〔(El Saetón de Sierra Morena. 20 escapadas de leyenda )〕 and a child brought up by wolves (Marcos Rodríguez Pantoja),〔(La historia del niño lobo de Sierra Morena )〕 among others.〔(Leyendas vivientes de Sierra Morena Cordobesa )〕 This range is also mentioned in the famous Mexican song "Cielito Lindo". ==Description== The Sierra Morena stretches for 450 km in an E-W direction from the high course of the Guadalmena River in the Sierra del Relumbrar until northwestern Huelva Province, extending into Portugal. The system is the result of the uplift produced by the pressure of the northward-moving African Plate.〔Wes Gibbons & Teresa Moreno, ''The geology of Spain''. Geological Society of London, 2003〕 It is made up of hard Paleozoic rocks such as granite and quartzite, as well as softer materials such as slate and gneiss. Its name, roughly meaning 'dark range', is likely derived from the dark color of some of the rocks and vegetation of the ranges that make up the mountainous system.〔(Principales unidades de relieve peninsulares )〕 It is also mentioned as ''Sierra Mariánica'' in some documents.〔(Gran Enciclopedia de España - Sierra Morena )〕 Formerly it was a border area, a vast wilderness with little population, and its mountain passes were important for the communication between Andalusia and Central Spain. The peaks of the ranges are not very high on average, in fact Sierra Morena's highest point is the lowest among the mountain systems of the Iberian Peninsula. They are, however, very consistent in altitude, averaging between 600 and 1,300 m all along the system. Since they form the southern edge of the ''Meseta Central'', the Iberian Central Plateau, the northern Sierra Morena ranges barely rise above the level of the surrounding plateau in most places. Nevertheless, the Sierra Morena looks like a true mountain range seen from the Baetic Depression in the south with impressive southward-facing slopes and gorges. Located within the province of Jaén, the Despeñaperros, an abrupt canyon created by the Despeñaperros River, with sheer walls over 500 metres high, is the natural path for crossing the Sierra Morena into Andalusia from the north of the peninsula. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sierra Morena」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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